KING COUNTRY PROHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 296, 13 September 1927, Page 10

KING COUNTRY PROHIBITION

Sir,—The Bishop of Waikato is a newcomer from the Old Country, and we may, therefore, excuse him for, perhaps not realising the advanced opinion in this Dominion as regards the liquor tiaffic. Ho may also be excused tor failing to realise that with a New Zealander his word pledged to the Maori is quite as binding as his word pledged to a European. It is not something Lightly given to be lightly discarded after‘the object has been achieved. Ihe bishop’s statement coucering prohibition in the King Country exhibits that rather unfortunate tendency, discernible in certain types, of regarding the welfare of the native races as always something secondary to’’’the convenience of the white man. The Maoris m the Kin" Country do not want licensed hotels “there. It would be a sorry thing tor us to give Samoan natiyes the benefit of prohibition, and, by breaking our pledged word, subject our Maori fellow citizens to the ravages of licensed liquor. It is important to remember that at the time of the covenant with the Maoris in 188-1 the Queen’s Writ did not run in that territory. Prohibition of the licensed sale of liquor in the territory was one of the vital conditions demanded by the Alaoris before they would consent to open their country to Hid white man. The European going to the King Country knew’ the condition before he went. If lie did not tike it, lie had the power to stay away. Thirty-five (that is,' practically everv one) of the leading chiefs m the King Country, last August, on behalf of their people, begged the Prime Minister to maintain the existing covenant. Before ever the Question of introd uciim license into the King Country can be dealt with, the foundation question of the covenant with the Alaoris has to bo faced. I think it will be agreed that not until the Maoris themselves ask that the'covenant should be abrogated have we any right to seek to, circumvent it. , ' . . In view of his position, the opinions expressed bv Bishop: Chgrrington ; in your issue of September 5 are.astounding. .. . , Freedom savs the bishop, is one .- ol the principles'on which the Empire is based. We hope, however, that New Zealanders do not wish (o purchase freedom to sell drink at the price of enslaving the Maori. If the bishop will study New Zealand history, he-will understand why the Maori people, know that strong drink is a deadly enemy, to them.—l am, etc.. ' J. MALTON MURRAY, Executive Secretary, N.Z. Alliance. September 5.