DRINKING BY MAORIS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27213, 3 December 1953, Page 10

DRINKING BY MAORIS

CHIEF EXPRESSES DISAPPROVAL

GOVERNMENT AND TRADE CRITICISED (New Zealand. Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 2. The paramount Maori chief in Wellington (Mr I. P. Puketapu) today expressed strong disapproval of Maori women drinking in hotels, and criticised both the Government and the licensed trade for their attitude toward women drinkers. “Young Maori girls should not be allowed into hotels. Something will have to be done about it, and soon, said Mr Puketapu. Mr Puketapu said he had been a member of the advisory committee to the Maori members of Parliament in 1948. when legislation was passed allowing Maoris to take liquor away from hotels and Maori women to drink in bars. “I objected strongly then to Maori women being allowed into hotels,” he said. “I objected to Maoris even being allowed to take drink from hotels. I knew what would happen.” Maori girls should not be allowed into hotels, he said, but the law was there, and until the law was altered not much could be done. The licensees of hotels should see that the law was not abused. “But the hotelkeepers don’t seem to care,’’ he added. “They sell liquor after hours, and they keep selling drink to young people who have already had too much. ’ Mr Puketapu said that if it were proved a hotelkeeper had sold liquor after hours, his licence should be taken from him. It was no use fining a licensee who broke the law in this way, as the fine could always be paid without any hardship. “My people are legally entitled to drink in hotels,” he added. “They should be satisfied with what they can get in hotels, and should not take drink home afterwards.” Maori welfare officers visited hotels, but there was not much they could do. The Government did not seem to be taking much notice of the trend in Maori drinking, Mr Puketapu said. “They want the stuff to be sold, because it means more tax. It seems to me something will have to be don? from the ‘outside.’ The people on tne ‘inside’ seem to be afraid to act.”