LIQUOR LAW AND MAORIS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25588, 1 September 1948, Page 6

LIQUOR LAW AND MAORIS

ANOTHER PETITION TO HOUSE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 31. A request that consideration be given to holding a referendum among Maori people at the next general election on the licensing laws as they affect the Maori people was contained in the petition of Hone Heke Rankin, of Kaikohe, and six others presented in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr P. K Paikea (Government. Northern Maori). The petition is differently worded from one on the same subject by Mr Rankin. and others presented last week Advocating equality of Maoris with Europeans in respect of the licensing laws, the petitioners said the present law was anomalous because: first, South Island Maoris, were not affected, being treated in the same manner as Europeans; second. Fijians. Samoans, and Rarotongans were allowed the same privileges as Europeans, while North Island Maoris were not; third, a Maori woman married to a European was not affected by restrictions which applied to Maori men married to European' women. The petition asked that the request made. in it be not applied to Maoris in the King Country unless they desired that present restrictions in that territory be removed and unless they wished to be regarded as on the same footing as other Maoris of both islands in the event of a decision being returned in favour of equal rights with Europeans. ,