CHINESE AND MAORIS. HALF-CASTE CHILDREN.

GRAVE PROBLEM. CHINESE AND MAORIS. HALF-CASTE CHILDREN. PROTECTION SOCIETY PERTURBED. WHOLE POSITION TRAGIC." The statement was made at a meeting of the Society for' the Protection of Women and Children this week that there are over 60 illegitimate half-caste Chinese babies in Auckland, and that the number of Maori girls of 16 or 18 years either living or associating with Chinese is increasing at a rate that causes grave concern. Overtures made to the Native -Minister to take steps to prevent the menace increasing have been unsuccessful. The society has now appointed, a sub-committee to make a complete investigation into the position and request Parliament to' introduce legislation to prevent white girls and Maori girls from being employed by Chinese.

Without Government assistance the society' is powerless. Last December it wrote to the Native Minister drawing his attention to the serious state of affairs: and asked that an inspector be appointed'to "keep.an'eye on what was going on.": To the letter the Minister replied that owing to the economic situation 'such an; officer could not be appointed. The society then asked that one of its, own offiqers be given some status' to make an inspection of Chinese premises and assume some little control, but this request was refused. Mrs.' M. Molesworth and Mrs. I. D. Bryce, inspector and secretary of the society, said to-day that the association of Chinese men and Maori girls was "rowing to an alarming extent. "White girls also were employed by Chinese in gardens, laundries, or shops. "In a country such as ours such a state of affairs is deplorable," said Mrs. Molesworth, "and it is amazing that the Government should sit still and do nothing to prevent the spread of the menace. It is not perhaps a nice subject to talk about, but our gir-ls must be protected from themselves. We know there are over 60 illegitimate half-caste Chinese babies in Auckland, and unless something is done to stop the girls mingling with the Chinese the number will increase."

Both Mrs. Molesworth and Mrs. Bryce expressed the opinion that unless legislation is introduced to make it illegal for girls to be employed by Chinese the only remedy is to allow Chinese women into the country, of prohibit Chinese men from coming in. 1 "A Chinese is entitled to have, his womenfolk the same as any other man, but they should be his own womenfolk," said Mrs. Molesworth.

"iile Maori girls. come to- town from the country," said Mrs. Bryce, "and, bijing unable to get employment, drift to Maingere, where the Chinese employ them in the gardens. The girls get very little mqpey, and, are content to accept what 'is offered them. The whole position is tragic." Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 242, 12 October 1932, Page 8