CHANGED CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 57, 8 March 1945, Page 6

CHANGED CONDITIONS

KING COUNTRY LIQUOR LAWS

In his evidence before the Royal Commission on Licensing Mr. B. L. Dallard, Under-Secretary of Justice, stated yesterday that conditions have so changed in the King Country as to justify a change infthe licensing law relating to that portion known* as the Rohe Potae.

The proclamation of it as a nolicence area was effected pursuant to a petition received from a large number of Maoris resident in the area. The proclamation was generally considered to be founded upon a pact entered into in 1882 on behalf of the Government of the day. with the Maniapoto tribe that no liquor licences would be issued in that portion of the King Country known as the Rone Potae.

. Mr. Dollard pointed out, however, that considerable changes, due to transportation and settlement, had been effected since that agreement was entered into, and there was now a greater portion of white population in the district. Conditions had so altered as to justify a review of the position. The granting of licences in carefully selected localities, he believed, would facilitate better accommodation and lessen sly grog selling of inferior and harmful liquor.

But, in almost exclusively Maori areas the licensing of premises would undoubtedly mean the establishment of demoralising rendezvous. This would be a matter for careful consideration by' the licensing authority.