CITY ACCOMMODATION FOR MAORIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13783, 23 June 1908, Page 3

CITY ACCOMMODATION FOR MAORIS.

Sit - ,—I desire to suggest a seiiomo to, you and the* interested section of your readers, in the coloured people of this Dominion, and that .is, a native private hotel, specially set apart for coloured people in some convenient situation, where the natives could' get decent quartets when they come to town, on business or pleasure. This , hotel should he managed by a suitable couple on Up-to-date European lines, offering ail the comfort) and convenience of a well-equipped, respectable hotel or hoarding establishment. It- is too well known at present by those who take the least interest in the natives that the finding of decent, accommodation for, our coloured folks is a work of art almost. The respectable houses don't care to take in Maoris, because there aro reasons well known to all; and the result is that the poor people have to tramp about looking for hitch ter for hours, and then at last have to accept any kind of accommodation rather than re» main in the street, and gut into far-dovvr drinking places, where the poor Maori ha« tc take second place again, ami see tho full share of the worst side of European life. I haw spent hours trying to get accommodation for decent Mauri*, and then failed. ,Of course, the big" rangatiras, who have influence!' and money, can get into hotels, hut: the rank and file can't- The pakaliaa' profess to be interested in the poor 'Maoris; .nowhere is an opportunely to do' some thinly - for them from a purely social point of view. Lot ns take a bit of heart,' and got out of ourselves for a little while at least, and do something to help our coloured friends the Maoris, to whom we owe at least this much, now thai the country is flourishing:, and things fairly good. " Let us demonstratethai we are in earnest ;d.-out ,th- natives of the land we live in. \Vt KoREt; Kjays.