MAORI WARDENS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21671, 24 March 1945, Page 6

MAORI WARDENS

CONTROL OF DRINKING THE ARAWA SOLUTION SYSTEM RECOMMENDED (P.A.) ROTORUA. March 24. “When wage conditions were reinstated by the Government and the Maori people in this district found themselves suddenly possessed of ample pocket money, (ollowing a long period of deprivation and unemployment, the question of uncontrolled and excessive drinking in public bars immediately began to exercise the minds of the leaders of the people and also responsible pakehas who have a friendly interest in the Maori race," said the chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, Mr. Mitchell, at a Maori conference. "It was felt that it would be detrimental to the prestige of the race if irresponsible members were permitted to spend money unchecked that should have, gone to provide necessities in (lie home, and that excessive drinking, .bringing in its wake bar-room arguments and possible disturbances in which the police became involved, would bring the Maori into disrepute and retard progress to the full opportunity and equality for which we have been working for many years.

“When the- matter was brought before the notice of the district hotels it was dealt with promptly and sympathetically. The problem was thoroughly thrashed out at a series of meetings and. as a result, it was decided .to place the onus of control on our own people in conjunction with tlie hotelkeepers. Accordingly a number of Maori wardens were appointed and rules drawn up and. prominently exhibited in Maori in the hotel bars. It was the duty of the wardens to quietly patrol the bars where any Maori was noticed to be over-indulging in drinking. A quiet' word from a warden was very effective. and a marked improvement in' bar-room conduct generally was effected. When any individual be-' came intractible the warden was' given power, either temporarily oi for a longer period, to issue an instruction to the barman, and this alsc proved very effective. Liquor in Pas Disapproved

“One matter that has been of concern in the Arawa district has been the drinking in the pas. Tribal committees and Women’s Health League branches strongly disapprove of this, tendency. Supplies of liquor fori drinking in the pas have not beet 1 obtained from the hotels and have apparently been obtained from slygroggers, unscrupulous pakehas, or from sources outside the district altogether. The police were instructed by the Licensing Committee to keep a strict watch on this tendency and discovered cases have been severely dealt with in the courts. As a result there has been a marked decrease in the complaints. “The system ot Maori wardens meets with considerable success. It. is a system that I can recommend for adoption whenever the .problem arises. The system stimulates the, Maoris' sense of responsibility to the necessity of good conduct and moderation by showing him that it has received the co-operation of his. people who participate in its observance and is not a restriction forced upon him by purely pakeha law."