EXCESSES ALLEGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1945, Page 7

EXCESSES ALLEGED

CONDITIONS IN FAR NORTH O.C. - KAITAIA, Friday. . .The. Mangonui Hospital Board decided yesterday "to present evidence to the Licensing Commission regarding the liquor question in the Far North. Mr. W. J. Steed said particular aspects which should be stressed were the bad influence of liquor upon the , native population and the resultant abuse of family benefits. He alleged that he had seen Maoris leaving Far North hotels with kegs and sacks of beer. Mr. Steed also strongly condemned the lack of control of' hotel bars which permitted continued serving of liquor to a man already intoxicated. "We all have personal knowledge of the position concerning natives and drink," declared Mr. T. S. Houston in making particular allegations regarding sly-grogging involving Dalmatians and Maoris in the' Ahipara district. Mr. Houston gave as his opinion that at least half of the venereal disease treated in the-Kaitaia. Hospital was attributable, to drink among natives at dances. The board would be lacking in its social duty if-it did not make an appeal to the Government to have the position remedied. "I know of several families who are not gamir.j the full benefit of.family allowance payments, because the money is wasted in drink as well as upon other things which are not necessities/', he-, added. . - Squandering of farnily allowances could be- checked by payment in coupons redeemable only in food or clothing,' said Mr. D. Kitchen. "A queue of women may be seen at Kaitaia Post Office in the morning and a queue of men at the hotel bar the, same afternoon," he continued; *. ■ . The secretary was instructed to frame evidence for presentation. to the Royal Commission.