Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 10

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

CIVIC COURTESY Sir,— May I raise a voice of protest against the want of common courtesy exhibited by his Worship the Mayor and his fellow-councillors at last evening’s council meeting. Many ratepayers suffered gr.eat inconvenience owing to the abominable accommodation provided for them in the so-called public gallery. It is astonishing that some councillor did not call his Worship's attention to his want of thought in failing to invite those unable to find seats in the gallery to occupy seats on the floor of the council chamber. Courtesy costs little, and is always remembered and appreciated. Public meetings at Home welcome public interest in their proceedings, and invariably go out of their way to provide for the comfort of those who attend as onlookers. I. BIRCH CLARK. CHINESE AND MAORIS Sir. — The correspondence between Dr. Mildred Staley and Mr. Ou Tsin Shuing, as reported in The Sun, is decidedly illuminating; after* a careful perusal I feel that the lady has probably left the Consul with strange ideas as to "Western women’s ethics regarding public utterances and consequent responsibilities. It will be interesting to see who makes the next move. In the meantime, .1 would point out that in blaming the illicit association of Maori girls with Chinese market-gardeners for the existence of SO per cent, of Maori half-caste children, the president of Te Akarana Maori Association was very much astray, even if his figures were correct, which I am inclined to doubt, it ti ne that among the conglomerate assortment of half-castes one sees in Rotorua a large number shows distinct traces of Asiatic paternity, but I am informed on good authority that the practice of our successive Governments in sending large numbers of overseas naval visitors of various races and nationalities has contributed seriously to the moral downfall of young native womanhood in our thermal district, and added considerably to the number of fatherless halfcastes of many types who are at present a burden on the older Maoris. What will be the future of these victims of a vicious system remains to be seen. I predict that they will form a grave social and economic problem for reasons which space does not allow me to touch upon here. I know the problem of the association of Maori girls with Asiatics is a difficult one and I am in hearty sympathy with those who seek to solve it, but' I fail to see how any worthwhile result of their concern

is to come about unless they attack it from the economic viewpoint. These Sirls are mainly the victims of a pernicious system which deprived them of their birthright—a livelihood on their tribal land among natural surroundings These daughters of landless Maoris driven to seek work in the city by economic pressure—thwarted and discouraged by the prevailing trade depression and by social ostracism, are compelled by necessity to seek work and shelter where they can find it. It is to our shame that it is only from the Chinese that they can secure it. Has Dr. Mildred Staley or any other member of the Women’s National Council ever thought of tackling this problem economically and doing anything of real benefit for our native sisters? In conclusion. I would touch on one point in Dr. Staley’s reply to the Chinese Consul: that is where she refers to the Chinese employer giving these girls neither time nor opportunity to cultivate Maori arts and crafts. Would a European employer consider it his business to see that his employees find opportunities for culture of any sort? Does the lady not understand that the girls are already robbed of any hope of being able to cultivate their native arts and crafts because of the poverty of their parents? I hope the community has been sufficiently aroused to a sense of its responsibilities toward our sisters of the Maori race and that measures will be taken to improve their condition. M. B. SOL.UK. THE COST Of A MENACE Sir. our paper lias done so much in a thorough effort to turn the Hospital Board aside from its stiff-necked folly in proposing to defy medical law and learning and build an infectious diseases block near the centre of this ill-managed city, that it is to be hoped you will go .farther and reveal to ratepayers the costs involved. And it would ho instructive, too. to learn exactly the manner in which the big sum is to be provided. Are the ratepayers of the Auckland hospital district to be called upon to provide the whole cost of the plaguey project, or are they to he responsible only for a portion of the expenditure? If by any chance the Government has to contribute a subsidy, what is the silent Minister of Health going to do about it? He cannot ignore the overwhelming mass of expert evidence against the board’s callous proposal. Even though it be true that Mr. Stallworthy is still learning his job, he must already know that it is- his first duty to protect the public. It is lonpr past time for the Minister to take action. Should The Sun

again take the lead in throwing on dark places and the follies of loom* bodies I. for one, shall be grateful. GRAFTON-