WELLINGTON NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 June 1925, Page 8

WELLINGTON NEWS

LABOUR AND MAORIS.

(Special to “Stax,”)

WELLINGTON, Juno 13.

In addressing a gathering of Maoris at Wanganui recently, Sir Maui Pomare delivered some criticism of certain planks in the Labour platform, which he considered would interest but not attract members of the Native race.

Referring in his speech to the “inter nationalism” of the Labour Party, and to the talk of its members about fraternity, the Minister observed that the only man who had ever insulted him in the House of Representatives, .was a Labour member, who did not hesitate to call him “a black nigger.” Exception to this statement is taken by officials of the .Labour' Party, and to-day Mr Fraser, secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party, said he wished to deny emphatically that any member of the Labour Party had ever addressed the words alleged to have been used in reference to Sir M. Poinare. Mr Erase rsaid thpt he had made enquiries as to the identity of the member, who was alleged to have used the words, and lie- could say definitely that he never was a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party. It is understood that the member referred to was Mr G. Payne.

SEARCH FOR SHELTER.

Though not directly connected with the house shortage, the experience of a family, which arrived from San Francisco this week, illustrates the difficulty of securing accommodation in Wellington. Conspicuous by their unusual dress, a family of Greeks, naturalised British subjects, stepped off the Makura last Monday. The family comprised sixteen persons, including a grandfather and grandmother, and several young children of their two sons. For two days they canvassed the town for accommodation without success, and this in spite of the fact that they had plenty of money, rhe cir cumstances were unusual on account of the size of the family, but the . fact is that they were unable to secure even hotel accommodation, and were forced to shelter ■ somewhere. All sixteen dossed in a shed in Manners street, measuring 10ft by about 17 ft. it is understood that the party have now gone to Auckland.

PILLAGED CARGO.

Complaints of pillaging cargo a ß al . n are being made in Wellington, this time the country concerned being Italy. Recently, a 'Wellington resident, while in Italy ,purchased a present for a young relative m Wellington, and had it packed and consigned. Ihe package came to hand a few days ago, but on being opened up all it contained was newspapers, it was evident that the act of transposition had been committed before the package was despatched from Italy, lhat is not the only experience of its kind so i. as Wellington residents are concerned. A local lady states that when visiting Italy some time ago she forwarded mementoes to her home town, but fioi each parcel, which arrived, been extracted and replaced by mb bish. 2_,