DRIFT TO CITIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 149, 26 May 1939, Page 9

DRIFT TO CITIES

PROBLEM OF MAORIS. WOMEN IN GARDENS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 25. Stating that it would not bo long before there were between 3000 and 4000 Maoris living in Auckland, Mr James Rukutai (Auckland) stressed to the delegates at tho Young .Maoris’ Conference the evils resulting from a drift of Maoris to the towns. Conditions in Auckland were appalling in many eases. There were exceptions, hut tile more unfortunate Maoris were suffering. “Our young men and women are migrating to the cities,” lie continued, “and in what sort of jobs do wo find them? Some in cafes or inferior ‘hashhouses’ and others in Chinese gardens. Our women have nothing to look forward to hut Chinese gardens. This is also the case of young hoys who should bo at school. The only remedy is repatriation.” Sir Apiramt Ngata: Would they go back? , Mr Rukutai: They have nothing to go hack to. Sir Apirana Ngata: Would they go hack if they had? Mr Rukutai: I doubt it. They are too firmly rooted in the life of the city. Air Rukutai added that the question had now become the major problem, hut it was not beyond solution. If left for another few years, however, it would have grown to such magnitude that it would be impossible to touch it,