NATIVES AND LIQUOR

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1920, Page 7

NATIVES AND LIQUOR

DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF

AFFAIRS,

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS .ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, 23rd February. William J. Williams, a. licensee, of Ai'amoho, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling to a,' Native for consumption off the premises twenty-four bottles of _whisky. Inspector Hendry Stntcd that there was a wedding at Ranana, an upriver Native settlement. Three Natives Were sent to town to purchase the liquor, which Was bought from the defendant, who at first refused to sell, but did so when informed that the liquor was for a wedding. He was not aware it was destined for the up-river settlement. The liquor wae taken away lv two portmanteaus, and wa-s subsequently discovered by the police. A conviction was entered, The penalty was postponed for the production of the license.

A deplorable condition of affairs was revealed by Inspector Hendry during the case. He eaid the police were informed that when the liquor entered Native upriver settlements scenes of deplorable drunkenness took place, men, women, and even children, drinking liquor. Convent sisters and priests working amongst the Natives found the work very much retarded by the debaucnery which ■ followed the drinking of liquor. In the Natives' own interests liquor should be prevented from going to the settlements. The better-elMs Natives deplored this excessive drinking, whicb war having a far-reaching effeot on the morals of the Natives.