MAHUTA AND THE ALLIANCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 7

MAHUTA AND THE ALLIANCE.

"NO LIQUOR IN THE ROHI POTAE." (By Telegraph-Press 'Association.) Auckland, June 7. A conference of some importance in connection with King Country affairs took place yesterday at Waahi, Mahuta'.s settlement, near ITuntly, between the lion. Mahnta and representative chiefs of the Waikato and the Rohi Potae on one side, and Mr. Wesley Sprngg, the president of the New Zealand Alliance. The subject of the conference was Iho prohibition of the liquor traffic in the King Country. The Rev. John Dawson and the Rev. William Gittos were also present. The conference was sought for by the representatives of the Alliance on account of reports which have been in circulation that the Maoris were willing, if not anxious, to have the proclamation of 18HJ(whereby liquor was to be kept out of the King Country for ever) Annulled. Messrs. Sprang, Dawson, and Gittos were present upon the invitation of the Hon. Maliutn. which invitation had been secured for them by the Hon. Mr. Ngata. The Rev. Mr. Ciiltos introduced Hie deputation, and explained its object, which was to inquire what was the real attitude of the Maoris towards the proclamation of the Rohi Potae as a prohibited district, so that the Alliance might have information at first baud. The [Jew John Dawson and Mr. Spragg then described the objects of the Alliance, and proceeded briefly to set forth the situation, asking for Mahula's powerful aid to keep liquor uul of the King Country. The lion. Mr. Mahntn, in reply, said: "My words shall not be many but few. About the Rohi Potae, I hose words (the proclamation) shall never be altered— the.v never shall be. The intention of our Maori councils is that we will not have lirjuor in (he district. This thing shall 1)0 again discussed at our great meetings. I quite approve of what, you ask, for I shall stand by the work of our fathers and our grandfathers. Their work was right. 1 will do as you ask, and will send a message to my people'through the council to say that the word of our fathers is to stand, and Hint no liquor shall come into the Rohi Potac."