HOSTEL FOR MAORI GIRLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24085, 2 October 1941, Page 6

HOSTEL FOR MAORI GIRLS

Sir, —There is another side to the gathering of Maori women in the city besides that dwelt upon by your correspondent, Amy Kasper. This tendency is not altogether due to the break-ing-up of communal habits through the shocks of war; many who know the Maoris well and have their best interests at heart have regretted Ibis trek to the cities for years past, in fact, ever since transport became easy and frequent. War conditions may have accelerated the movement, and have certainly made the situation more acute, the health conditions less desirable and the moral environment more dangerous'. When, in the menaced cities of the Homeland, evacuation to the less dangerous areas is urged, and as far as possible compelled, surely it is unwise to facilitate and so encourage the congregating of Maori women in the city. Anyone who knows the Maori habits realises how quickly the news of such a rendezvous would circulate and how the (low to the excitements of the city would increase. The large and powerful organisation which Mrs. Kasper represents might rather urge the Maori women and those who have most inflnence with them to resist this movement to the cities as long and as far as they can. Matiiha.