MAORIS AND LIQUOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 254, 20 July 1908, Page 8

MAORIS AND LIQUOR.

LOCAL OPTION DESIRED. , PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. ' The following is tho text of tbo Maori petition, which will.be presented to Parliament, pointing out the bad effects of strong drink among tho. Natives, and asking for either prohibition or local option in regard to Native settlements. The petition has been very .largely signed. " To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The petition of us,, tho -.undersigned members of. tlie Maori race, showeth, " Great evil has been wrought upon tho Maori'race through tho use of. alcoholic and spirituous liquors, and it is our experience, that the habit' has greatly increased the already numerous weaknesses of our people so that we have become as a race more improvident. This habit has interfered with' industrial pursuits, has undermined the interests of . establishments, weakened the influence of Christianity, besides doing' physical injury to the race by injuring thoso who are tho parents of children.' ".Wo are aware that Parliament has from time to time made, enactments ill order -to mitigate as far as possible the evil influence of this habit among our. people, as/for oxample:— • : "(a) Parliament decreed that no liquor should be sold in tho district known as Torohepotae, King Country, and that prohibition has been. maintained down to the present time. " (b) It has further . been . enacted . that liquor shall.not be supplied to, Maori women except such Maori women as,are married'to Europeans. _ •• , " " (c) By virtue of the Maori Councils Act, 1907, power was given to'the Maori Councils ■to make by-laws penalising persons under'the influence of liquor froln entering any Maori kaingas,'prohibiting the introduction of liquor into such kaingas or the supply thereof at' any Maori meetings. " (d). In most of' tho districts, under the Maori Councils Act it has been provided : tbat liquor shall not be supplied to Maoris for • consumption off the premises, but .such'.restriction is not in force as against halfcastes living as Europeans. ■ . " (e) We .furthermore understand that the Magistrates' are empowered to issue prohibition" orders against individual Maoris; and such order, may. be-made for life. "'•We appreciate to the. fullest extent-the" reasons that prompted Parliament to .make such special provision to mitigate ; as far y as : possible the ovils'that thus prevail among' our people. - "Oil the other handj-although tho .restrictions imposed by law are stringent, there are weaknesses apparent'in administration of the law, and we' cite; generally the following instances:— , i 1 " (a) We hear from_ time >to ■ time of -sly grog-selling in the ■ King. Country,' for the reason that the prohibition is'only.-against' tho- sale; of liquor,_ but not against the introduction. pf liquor into, such districts. " " (b) We are aware ;that Madri women are supplied with liquor, that th'ey 'can'procure.' it from the publicans, or through the medium' of other persons: ' ' : . ' " (e) ■ Notwithstanding , the ' restriction against the introduction of liquor into, the kaingas'6r to the Maori meetings, the Maori Councils have failed .in the majority of cafces to enforce penalties-f.or breaches of . their by- , laws-in this respect. . Furthermore,- the administration of. this, by-law is seriously endangered by the evil example set by certain: members of the Council, and bv tbo members of committees who indulge in this habity arid in Maori kaingas, and ,in detached kaingas ■ on the gum fields in-the pioneer settlements of the back-blocks'.it is : impossible, for tho Councils :to oxerciso adequato control.', -. -"■(d) 'Notwithstanding ' the ■, prohibitionagainst,tho supply of liquor for consumption off licensed proriiises, thero is almost as much liquor sold in this way as heretofore^;,because in many -instances liquor is procurable through tho medium of half-castes or thrjough European frionds, who purchaso and supply to the Maoris ■as though there - were no pro-. hibition enactment. ■ ! ' ■ " (e) Maoris have very great; hesitation (as it is contrary- to their, customs and prejudicial to their family interests)' iu applying for-a prohibition order against •a ■ relative, and thereby encouraging and fostering ill-feeling. ! "There is one great'defect in the "laws'; that is that. 110 .power has .'been given to the Maori people to express effectively their opinions ,with regard to the licensing of premises for. the sale of-liquor. It is'due to, the lack .of such provision that no opportunity , has . beon directly offered'to. tho Maori people, for creating and forming . any■: opinion upon - "this important matter ; that their attention may be directed moro forcibly and 1 more keenly to the evils of thehabit. , , " Wherefore your.; petitioners . pray .that,' your honourable House' may take; into_ consideration the weaknesses, we have l-poirited-out in the administration of the .laws, that; the law may be amended in such a way as to leave as "little risk of failure as possible through laxity of. administration.', • 1 \ ; ..." We' further pray that' it be enacted that' either the supply of liquor be absolutely pro : hibited both to-Maoris and also to half r castes :living in Maori settlements, amongst' Maoris', or olso that power b'e given to the Maori people' to', express an opinion and to vote upon'the question whether or not .liquor should be supplied to Maoris either within the'existing Maori!electoral areas or within, the Maori Council districts.",' '■•' . • , ' i A deputation will '.wait' upon. Sir Josopb "Ward, in connection with' : the v subject, of local option, at a garden party to be given to the visiting Maoris at Awariia House, this afternoon, •