Scathing Indictment of Asiatic Intrusion

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 725, 26 July 1929, Page 1

Scathing Indictment of Asiatic Intrusion

DANGER TO MAORIS WOMEN’S COUNCIL MOVES Scathing indictments of the interference by Chinese in European and Maori family life was made last evening at a conference between Te Akarana Maori Association and the National Council of Women.

Both organisations now hope to cooperate in working to improve the living conditions of a section of the Maori people. Most important of the problems l-aised was the association between Maori girls and Asiatics. The grave fears of the association, especially now that it had been established that unscrupulous native women have acted as agents in enticing girls to be employed by Chinese, were stated. Mr. James Rukutai, president of the association, pointed out that Maori social workers needed the help of Eux-opeans in obtaining fx-eedom from evils introduced by civilisation. “What we want members of the Nati-nal Council of Women to consider is whether the remnants of the Maoris are worth saving,” Mr. Rukutai said. Investigation into the Maoris and Chinese question had been carried out by the National Council of Women, Miss B. Carnachan said. EUROPEANS’ DUTY “The Europeans are bound in every way to assist the Maoris in overcoming the Asiatic evil,” Dr. Mildred Staley stated. “The right legislation should be brought about. “I personally favour keeping out the Chinese. Now that the five Chinese treaty ports are closed to the British, there is no legal reason for admitting Chinese to Mew Zealand. Under the agreement, Chinese could be admitted in British countries while the treaty ports were open. “Chinese associations are dangerous. moi-ally, spiritually and physically. Special efforts ai’e needed to fight the evil. The Maori Association should carry oxxt a campaign to prevent girls from this demoralisation. The Chinese ai'e riddled with disease. Drastic legislation is urgently wanted; it can be got now that the treaty ports are closed.” Mrs. John Cook stated the council’s willingness to assist. A suggestion that two Maori women should join the council in Auckland to,help in social woi'k met the approval of the association. RACE COULD FAIL “If Maori women are to become mere consorts of Chinese aud Indians, then the race will be a failure,” Mr. George Graham said. “If that is going to happen, the sooner it comes about, the better, from the European point of view. But such pi-opoi-tions have not been reached yet.” Mr. Graham said that the educational system should be changed to give Maori gii-ls, at the leaving age, more knowledge of the facts of life. Stating that the question affected the life blood of the Maori race, Mr. Patrick Smyth said that the ti-ouble had been brought about by the educational system. “It is no use trying to gloss it over —the average Maori suffers from the inferiority complex,” lie said. “The education of the Maori has so far been a failure. “People say: ‘They go back to the mat.’ How uncharitable. Where are many of the Maoris to go? “The work must be begun in the homes. Maoris have been made better people by civilisation, but it is hard for them to keep in line in such a short time. The civilising people will have to assist. This is necessary now that Asiatic teeth are sinking into Maori vitality. If the evil goes oil, an appalling picture can be imagined. The Maori mind is changing. It has not had so much training in abstract thought, and it often misunderstands. Civilisation has burdened the race with a method of thinking which has i not been quite gripped yet.”