KING COUNTRY LICENSING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27128, 26 August 1953, Page 7

KING COUNTRY LICENSING

REFERENDUM PLAN CRITICISED PRESBYTERY EXPRESSES “ GRAVE CONCERN ” “The Christchurch Prosbytery views with very grave concern and strong disapproval the proposal of the Government to hold a combined Maoripakeha referendum in the King Country on the question whether licences should be granted there,” says a resolution passed recently by the Christchurch Presbytery, and released for publication by the Presbytery clerk (the Rev. A. A. Brash). “Presbytery is emphatically of the opinion, that, in view of the proclamation of 1885. the belief of the Maoris that there was a sacred agreement and that successive Governments have recognised that there was such an agreement. then such action on the part of the Government would be highly dishonourable, leaving a stain upon the honour of the dominion which time would never erase,” the resolution says.

“Presbytery would therefore draw the attention of the Government to paragraph 1222 of the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing, which reads as follows: ‘lf the Maori people decide against open licences, the Europeans cannot complain if they are not permitted to , vote on the question whether there should be open licences. The Europeans came into the King Country knowing the nature of the present restrictions, and they must await the decision of the Maori residents on the question of open licences.’ “Presbytery therefore urges the Government that, if the Government is determined to hold a referendum, then to safeguard our country’s honour, such a Referendum must be bilateral rather than unilateral,” the resolution concludes.