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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 47, 1 May 1942, Page 5

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TO MAORIS QUESTION OULD NOT PROVIDE EVIDENCE MISUNDERSTANDING ALLEGED The strong criticism levelled by County Councillors last month against the alleged trafficking of liquor to Maoris by certain drivers of taxis, and the prompt invitation by the Transtport Board to submit evidence before it in order to assist an enc quiry into the subject, caused something of a stampede at the Council table last Tuesday. Speakers claimed that while they realised 1 that the liquor was reaching the Maoris they were not in a position to give individfk ual evidence. It was also claimed that it was not the intention of the Council to seek an en■qui'ry but merely to be gj/ven to a list of license holders for the purpose of review. Cr NlMcCready indulged in some trenP*ant criticism of the police and l urged that iall car drivers should be included in the general overhaul which the Council sought to introduce. When the letters from the Transport Department were considered, -Cγ McCready said that the criticism indulged in by the Council included ;nll taxi drivers. It was therefore -only i'air that the representations include drivers of all vehicles, as it ■was known that liquor had been carted in milk cans and horse-drawn vehicles. While on the job, he considered that the Council should urge that all vehicles should be made liable for searching for liquor destined for Maoris. Cr McGougan said his remarks "last month were not intended, as they had been reported. What he .meant was that the evil lay in the increased - amount of money the Maoris were receiving. He was not casting any reflection on the conduct of the hotels. Not Accusor'fc Role Cr McCracken thought the Trans"port Department had no justification to seek to bring the Council before the sitting for evidence. He knew that there was substantial evidence but it was not his intention of going to court in the role of an accusor. ' He had merely sought a list for reviewing the present license holders. It required very definite evidence to submit to a court of enquiry and the Council had only felt it its duty to voice its protest in the public interest. If in future, their representations in the public welfare were to be nailed down to direct evidence it was going to curtail their influence for good considerably. "We know that Maoris have paid 35/- for a bottle of whisky at Ruatoki declared Cr M.oCready with some heat. "You can always get enough unscrupulous people to supply them, with it. What wev'e got to • do is to stop all avenues so that any man caught taking liquor to the Pahs is deprived of his license. Now that the question has gone soi far, in fairness to> the taxi drivers we should not differentiate." Police Criticised l Cr Smith: "Its a matter for the police." Cr McCready: "The Police—they're dead but they won't lie down! I can tell you of a complaint which Avas lodged to the police about Maoris -drinking and using a building. Two were Avritten and there Avas rcpty. The police Avon't do any"thing. In the end the owner had to come and nail the premises up to put a stop to the disgusting scenes that AA'ent on." o Cr Smith: "We ought to> press for Shu tighting up of the control." Everybody Knows chairman: "What resolution, McCready: "That action he takto see that the law is enforced all drivers." McGougan said that no one ' ' "was. against the liquor traffic more than he, but since last meeting he had been informed that very little liquor Avas now going up to Rnatoki. Cr McCready: "Everybody knoAvs "it going on, but nobody's trying to stop it." Cr McGougan: "The constable at Taneatua has told me that any complaint given him he'd act upon it at once." Cr McCready-: "Why should you have to' tell him?" Cr McGougan: "He has a big job nnd its the duty of all citizens to co-operate with him." Cr Luxton: "Has any councillor ■actually any evidence? Have they -seen it being done. Most of the com-

plaints are only based on rumours." Cr Wardlaw: "I have no evidence. Straight Criticism If I had I'd give it to the police first and the Council later." Cr McCready: "I don'i know what's the matter with, this council. We allege a thing and now we're not willing to push it any further. We know its going on. Liquor in big quantities—lorry load's of it. Its wrecking all efforts of the Mission. Yet we who represent the ratepayersl are not prepared to force the issue. Instead we settle on half a dozen taxi drivers." Cr Wardlaw: "We've gone too' far" Cr McCready: "Yes of course we have—-as far as the taxi drivers are concerned." Letter to Board Endorsed Cr Luxton said he never thought for a moment the Council wouxi be asked to produce evidence. What they wanted was a list to scrutinise in order to assess the taxis per head of the population and to review the position. If evidence of the traffic in liquor came up then it could be investigated. Cr Smith: "I think that councillors merely have heard complaints and passed them on." Cr McGougam "We have no real proof at all, Mr Chairman." Cr Burt said he lived in a Maori district and heard all sorts of tilings but it was next to impossible to prove it. We have to admit that we know its going on but proving it is quite a different matter. At the chairman's request the Clerk's letter was read and it was decided to approve- it as a consensus of the Council's opinion on the matter of giving evidence. P. Gohu's Letter A letter from M'- P. Co'm, taxi proprietor of Tanea'ua, suggesting that the Council p'-o?nre definite evidence before making a general accusation against all individuals Avhc, drove taxis, was received. It was resolved that Mr Cohu be thanked for his letter and advised that any innocent taxi proprietor had nothing to fear and that the Council understood that the writer was an innocent party.