DRAWING THE COLOR LINE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 22 June 1912, Page 5

DRAWING THE COLOR LINE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Last Saturday, 15th instant, I visited Hawera as a member of the Wanganui Rugby Football representative team. After lunch I went round the town with the intention of getting a shave in one of the shaving saloons and then going to the show. I did not want to miss the show as I had enjoyed myself there this time last year, so, naturally, I was in a hurry. I called at two saloons in the main street, but! found them both full. I went across to j Mr W.. O'Connor's saloon, and, finding ! only one or two waiting, I quietly sat I down and waited patiently for my turn, I conversing with a half-caste Maori I friend who came in to see me on business, and who, subsequently, bidding me good-bye, went away. When one of the chairs was empty, I sat down on it and waited. I can swear on oath that three gentlemen, who come in after me^ were shaved on the other two chairs while I was left waiting on my chair. I must have been fully threequarters of an hour in the saloon, andy" had I not questioned Mr O'Connor about shaving me, I believe,X *wbuld be waiting there to this day. I asked Mr O'Connor if he were drawing the color line in his business, to which he replied that "I ought to know it by now as I heard him say something to some other natives." I said I regretted very much that he had not told me straight out, for, in that case, I certainly would have retired at once instead of wasting my time there; besides, it would ■have been no offence to me to be told so—^better that ihan to be left in the chair for so lons, and eventually, not to get a shave. Mr O'Connor replied that' my people were too sensitive and that was why he did not tell me: in fact, he took it for granted that I would know. I said it was a pity he did not charge me rent for the use of his chair. However, as I said to Mr O'Connor. I have travelled pretty well all over New Zealand. Australia, the Old Country, and South Africa, and this is the first time I have been turned down, but, as the ■business was his, the best I could dt> was to leave the premises after my friend, hrd finished his shave. Before leaving. T tn]d him I would write to the paper, informing the general public that Mr O'Connor absolutely refused to shave any native in his saloon and had not even th© courtesy to request him to quit the premises . I may say that Mr O'Connor is of the opinion that my writing to the press will greatly advertise his business; but that, of course, is a matter of opinion.

I advised Mr O'Connor to get a notice board, written in the Maori language, put up in the most conspicuous place outside his shop to warn natives, particularly visiting natives, about entering his saloon, and thus save all parties a lot of inconvenience.

Before closing, I wish to thank you, Mr Editor, for allowing me this valuable space in your columns.

A. .TAKARANGI