GIRLS COME TO THE CITY

Te Ao Hou, September 1961, Page 28

GIRLS COME TO THE CITY PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN ASHTON It is easier for young Maoris to settle in the city if they have a responsible adult person there to guide them, and help them over such difficult problems as accommodation. This story tells about a group of girls from the Wairoa district who were given real help by the factory who employed them, and by a Maori welfare officer. It shows that if only such help was available to everyone, life for the young city Maori could be far more secure. Our cover girl, Aroha Te Aho, arrives at Wellington station from her home sheepfarm at Waihua, Hawkes Bay. At their well-appointed flat, the girls cook their meals in comfort after work. From left to right: Allies Ormsby, Lybia Huata, Aroha Te Aho

We have heard a lot over the years about the Maori “drift to the cities”. When it started to happen, it worried people. But this moralising did not stop the “drift”; The pleasures of village life are sometimes a little over-rated. One may live in an overcrowded house, do a lot of hard work and suffer much inconvenience, without getting any obvious reward for one's labours. It is natural for youth to look around for something better— often it can only be found in the towns. Most young people are too wise to fall altogether for “bright lights'. Life in the city is not easy: you have to work regularly, be very careful with money, accommodation often gives trouble, and friends and relations have a habit of getting themselves into difficulties you have to help them out of. Worst of all is that you never know what this big thing, the City, it going to do to you next. You get talked into ideas you are really not too keen about, as soon as you seem comfortably settled, something comes out of the blue and you don't know where to turn next. Many go back home for a while when things get just too complicated. But that does not help either, you have to leave home again. This sort of “drift” has been going on for about 20 years. Meanwhile some things have been done to help the young Maoris in the cities: hostels, clubs, help with employment and some other welfare services. The bulk of young people, however, have not been reached by these services; many, indeed, do not need help from outside, they look after themselves very well.