MAORIS BARRED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23137, 8 September 1938, Page 18

MAORIS BARRED

HOTELS IN HAMILTON HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT PROVISION OF HOSTEL URGED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednedsay The refusal of 26 of 27 proprietors of hotels and boarding-houses in Hamilton to accommodate casual Maori boarders was discovered by a committee of the Hamilton Rotary Club set up to inquire into the need for a Maori hostel at Hamilton. The committeo comprised Dr. H. B. Turbott, district health officer, Inspector C. W. Lopdell, and Mr. James Treloar, A report on the question has been prepared by Dr. Turbott.

Dr. Turbott said the need for a hostel had increased in recent years as a greater number of Maoris were now using the public hospital in Hamilton, and, in consequence, many others came into Hamilton to visit those who were sick. Maoris required to attend the Supreme Court and Magistrate's Court often had to stay over-night in the town and many had had either to walk the streets at night or sleep under trees. There was no pa in or near the town, Dr. Turbott stated. Some of tlie visitors went to the homes of two natives in Frankton and over-crowding resulted. One of the houses was of a poor standard. Inquiries had been made at 27 hotels and hoarding-houses in Hamilton, and at only one place was it stated that casual Maori boarders would be accepted, said Dr. Turbott. Most of the proprietors refused point blank to accommodate Maoris. "If accommodation for Maoris was demanded under tho licensing laws, tho police could only help to obtain admittance, and there is nothing to prevent any licensee charging as he pleases for accommodation," said Dr. Turbott. "Financially and psychologically the Maori is barred from the public hotels, except in the bars,'" The "committee suggested: (1) That the Rotary Club initiate a campaign to establish a hostel in Hamilton; (2) that a trust board be set up to assume responsibility for the control and maintenance of the hostel; _(.'s) that the Hamilton Borough Council he asked to lease at a pepper-corn.rental or give to the board a suitable section; (-1) that £750 be raised, £250 from the Rotary Club, £250 from the Maoris, and £250 from local bodies; (5) that the Government be asked to subsidise this at a rate of £2 for £1 and to make "through tho Native Department an annual grant to cover maintenance. The report will come before the Rotary Club for discussion.