ALLEGED COLOUR BAR

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 14

ALLEGED COLOUR BAR

AFRICAN STOOENT'S CLAIM ; COMPLAINT AGAINST HOTEL Allegations that he was refused admission to a Loudon hotel because he was a man of colour were made in a London Court recently by Mr Oluvole Ayodelo A laky a, a West African graduate of Oxford University, and the nephew of the reigning Prince of Abeokuta, Nigeria. He sued the proprietors of the hotel for £55 damages for alleged breach of contract. Ho was awarded £l2 12s and costs. Counsel for Mr Alakya said that after taking his degree Mr Alakya was very anxious to settle in London to read for the Bar. Wanting accommodation, he wrote to the hotel in question asking for its terms. The reply enclosed the tariff, and said the terms were from 21 to 3gs a week for full board, service, and accommodation.

Mr Alakya wrote asking for two rooms at 2igs a week for ten months, and received a reply saying they had been reserved for him. It was later arranged that one room should be reserved from August 27, and Mr Alakya arrived at the hotel on that date. “NO ROOM IN THE HOTEL.” “Mr Alakya handed in his card and said bo was expected,” said counsel. “ He was shown to his room, and had begun unpacking his trunks when he was told that the manageress would like to see him. She told him she was very sorry, but they had no room for him in the hotel, lie pointed out that the matter had been arranged and that he was expected, and eventually it came out that the real reason why he was told that they had not room for him was the fact that he had concealed from them that he was a man of colour. “Mr Alakya was told ho could not stop, and he went to a cousin’s house. Later ho saw the manager of the hotel, who continued what he had already been told.” Mr Alakya. in evidence, said his father was a barrister of the MiddleTemple, practising at Lagos. He had three brothers studying in England and a sister at a public school there. “ I have never been refused at any hotel or boarding house before.” he said.

Miss Grace Foster, bookkeeper at the hotel, giving evidence for the defence, said she was very surprised when she saw Mr Alakya. “1 did not expect to see, an African gentleman,” she said. “ There had been nothing in the correspondence to suggest it. It was quite English. (Laughter.) Ho noticed something strange in my manner, and 1 told him we took only white people.” Witness added that she told Mr Alakya he could go down to the dining room after the other visitors had gone or he could have a tray sent up to his room. He did not decide immediately. HOTEL PROPRIETOR’S STATEMENT.

Mr John Warren, the proprietor, said that when lie saw Mr Alakya the latter told him ho was not stopping, as his room was too high up. if Mr Alakya had mentioned in his letter that ho was an African witness would never have offered him accommodation. “It would ruin my business.” declared Mr Warren. “ There are hotels in Lancashire Gate which cater especially for coloured people.” Counsel: Vou know that recently the ruling Prince of Abyssinia was stopping at one of the leading West End hotels. They did not object. Witness: At a small hotel like mine it is different. At the big hotels coloured people can walk about and no one notices them.

Judge Snaggs, in delivering judgment, said that the question of a coloured man’s duty to disclose the fact that he was a man of colour before taking rooms was a difficult one. Had Mr Alakya known the fact of bis being a man of colour would debar him from obtaining accommodation at this hotel and had for that reason refrained from disclosing it ho would have obtained the room by a trick. That,” continued His Honour, “ would have been conduct of a young man in his position which judicial criticism could hardly have been adequately expressed.” The judge, however, said ho was of the opinion that Mr Alakya had not had that intention.