American servicemen over sexed and over here
DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
Accommodation is an issue in 21st century New Zealand, with infrastructure under strain courtesy of ill-judged immigration policies. Eighty years ago, in Hamilton, the problem was no less severe, though the visitors were more of a temporary nature, invested in protecting the nation against the potential of invading Japanese and apocryphally - “over-paid and over-sexed” as well as “over here”.
Where to put holidaying American servicemen became an issue in early 1944.
On the weekend of March 13 200 Hamiltonians opened their homes to our brave, thirsty and amorous allies.
Given the arrival of a further 100 was imminent, a hospitality organisation especially established to cope with the challenge issued a special plea, noting that “the majority of hostesses had been delighted with the visitors and wished they would come again”.
Ten days later a Hamilton father “with a family of girls” wrote to the
stating that he found the Americans “in every way gentlemen” and suggesting that the overflow be accommodated in some of the town’s large public halls.
Inevitably, some visitors were to prove themselves something other than gentlemen.
Large groups of Americans were seen to gather at Hamilton Lake, well supplied with liquor and having convinced many a local lass to share a bottle.
On one occasion a taxi was observed to arrive with two American soldiers, two young ladies and “two sacks of beer”.
A month later the prosecution of a 17 year old girl, Harata Rua, revealed that a certain haystack in Frankton had become “a favourite haunt of visiting servicemen and Maori men and women”.
Rua had been “leading an immoral life” ; the clear implication was that the haystack - “a source of annoyance to the police” - had served as something more than her domicile.
The Americans could also prove gullible victims themselves.
On March 17 Wiri Te Moananui came across a group of servicemen on the streets of Hamilton and complained that he had nowhere to sleep the night.
When the Allies took pity and invited him to stay with them, Moananui rifled through his hosts’ belongings, stealing a cigarette case and a considerable sum of money.