LETTERS

Te Ao Hou, November 1973, Page 30

LETTERS Dear Editor, I liked what the Ombudsman Sir Guy Powles had to say about ‘Maoris and the Law’. I'm I suppose one quarter Maori and three quarters Scot, my Gran being full Maori; but I'm white—with quite a few brown descendants. So I see discrimination as much among the brown as amongst brown and white. But of this I do not wish to speak, for the young of any colour—and all their problems—are dear to me. It's this ‘being white’. When applying for a State house which I got after three years, I had to supply references, as to my honesty in payments of rents and other debts; name of prior landlords—from which a record of my desirability as a tenant could be assessed. Having at that time six children of my own and three relatives' ‘motherless ones’ I was fortunate in that my well-trained family had kept homes occupied by us in good condition. So there was no trouble there. So I put it to you—I've seen white peoples homes in a filthy condition, I've seen otherwise too. My Maori friends married to whites keep spotless homes. I've seen the same with some Fijian and other Islanders' homes—but not all. Broken windows, uncut lawns, give evidence enough to put any landlord off accepting these as tenants. So I say to you, be fair. If a white person must show credentials, others must do the same. I was at the chirstening of my great-grandchild a month back — part Fijian and part Maori—by marrying back into the race. There were over 150 guests—only about seven of us white and the Minister and wife. We were evidently novel, me at the head of the main table, and the other great-grandpa, an Islander, at the other. There was a little strain till I took snowy-haired Carol's hand and introduced her to a brown he-man of her own age, 4 1/2. He eyed her up and down, then blurted out, “Who made your dress?” She answered, “My Mum!” “Oh,” he said softly, “My Mum made my suit.” Then, “It's pretty … you are pretty … ” and all the other children crowded round to show off Mum's handiwork. I tried to make friends, but they are either shy or mistrustful. But I pointed out to one couple the children's Continued on page 43