Dear Sir.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 50, 8 May 1942, Page 4

Dear Sir.

MAORIS AND LIQUOR Sir—Speaking generally we very 1 heartily commend leader of Friday, May 1, and assure you that the religious ladies are absolutely>•>" with you in this matter. But we are of the opinion that you are not quite fair in yciur strictures on the Council. These meli are M striving to give a lead —why not en- l courage them? Your remarks were calculated to* discourage. In our struggle with evil, morale must be kept up and everything which might tend tot lower it carefully avoided. Stir the mind of the •mblic into such condition which -t will demand, that this practice cease, and the police Avill do everything possible to ensure its abolition. But what encouragement do the police receive from men and women gcnj|H| erally? If lax, they arc strict complaints are laid." Quite obviously taxi drivers are not alone to. blame, and sometimes 1 we wonder if these drivers, who are guilty, are not driven to do this sort of thing in order to eke out a precarious living. Enquiry should be made along this line. In regard to ycur reference to "sloppy teetotalism" we venture to say that this path is the only perfectly safe one to jmrsue, especially if one happens to drive a car. This round of the light may not . have been a glorious victory, but the field is not lost, Your part is to encourage us to stand against all forms of evil and if we make a poorshowing to lend us your hand. Jm The title of your article is strik-' ing, but cutting. Surely there is a more excellent way. Unfortunately feet of clay are all too common. In regard to your challenge to theministers of religion, we would point out that though our work is not spectacular we are still doing something. We could hardly act as spies for the law. What will prove of tremendous value to the Maoris of the Bay is the projected scheme put forward some little time ago by the Rev. J. G. Laugh ton. To this we intend to give every assistance whenever conditions permit the erection of the necessary buildings. We are for the Association, S. G. CAULTON, President H. HOGG, Secretary. J (With all due respect to the avriters of the and the nature of their calling we have still jto assert that mere passivit3 T towards this thing will never uproot the evil. We cannot find words strong enough to express our feelings towards the tacit inactivity on the part of people wlioi are only willing to shake their heads and say "we know its going on." Unless more rigofous measures are taken in this matter we might as well save our breath. Surely the religious orders working in close connection-with Maori life Avould l be in a favourable position to drag out the evidence which would help to sweep away this wretched practice without any qualms of conscience regarding such phrases as "spies for the law." Surely this. ,is a privilege and a duty of amy self respecting individual. We would like to point out that we did not term all teetotalism 'sloppy', but unfortunately it is generally re-*, cognised that such an element does very definitey exist much to the detriment of the cause. We thank our correspondents for their commendation but would point out that in this matter we take the view that only' strong, direct and scathing terms are likely to draw public attention to the state of affairs as they exist to-day in the back country Pahs and settlements. Ed.) A FISH Sir, —In reference to the sub-leader in Wednesday's Beacon in connection with the acute shortage of fish in the district. Has the Editor ever taken the trouble to investigate from, the proper scairce as to the shortage of supplies here or is he just relying on village gossip or public house talk. Every wholesaler in New Zealand has to make a return every month of their catches to Marine Depart-, ment and every town in New Zealand is suffering from shortage of fish. I have been in Wliakatane 8 years and never during that period have I solely relied on local supplies. If supplies were short here I could always receive fish from Thames, Tauranga, Gisborne and (Continued in previous column) ... , ::: •;