THE LICENSING BILL. The Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1881.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 132, 20 July 1881, Page 2

THE LICENSING BILL.

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1881.

One of the last clauses passed while the' above Bill was in Committee in ' the Lower House was certainly one of the most important. It was to the' effect that within Native Licensing Districts no spirituous liquors shall be sold to natives. Of course it is pretty well known that a law somewhat to the same effect already exists, but that it has been so long left in abeyance, that even so staunch a crusader against strong drink as Sir W. Pox never attempted to put it into force. Though it is certainly true that, as applied to Europeaps, and having regard to the general decrease in drunkenness, which is amply proved by statistics, we are opposed to anything approaching prohibitive legislation, no such objection presents itself to our mind in regard to the natives. In any civilization hitherto introduced among the Maoris by the Europeans in which rum has had any place, it has at once far more than counteracted the good done in any other direction. Barring perhaps the suppression of cannibalism, the Maoris would probably have heen better off if their shores had never been invaded by a race of men, who might almost be said to carry the Bible and blankets in one hand, and rum and tobacco in the other Such civilisation as they chiefly came into contact with was, with the exception of that of the missionaries, far more like a school of vice than of virtue. The seductions proved too great for a race, as yet only in its infancy) when regard is had- to its growth and progress in the civilisation which respects life, law, and property, and in theory, at least, admits that truth and equity shall be considered before any question of personal gain. Such a civilisation, it is now generally admitted, is the gradual product of centuries, and cannot suddenly be forced into being. If it be true that the Maoris should be regarded but as children when exposed to temptation to which too many Europeans even yet succumb, surely the restraints imposed upon a child may, and ought to be, imposed on them. The elders and chiefs, presumably the wiser of their own race, Te Wliiti, Tawhiao, Eewi, and others, all recognise the evil, and try to restrict the supply of spirits to their people. Surely the men who brought the temptation are bound in honor and equity to step in and say — Spirits are to your race what fire or sharp implements are to a child ; we will do our best to prevent yon from procuring any. The Maoris have also a right to be heard on their own behalf,

and we therefore append an excellent straightforward speech made by Major Te Wheoro :—

Sir, — I wish to say a few words upon this Bill, as there are clauses in it affecting the native race. The men, women, and children of our race all partake of spirituous liquors. I do not at all think that Europeans equal the natives in ability to consume spirits. You often see them lying down in the mud, and they do not seem to think that they are human beings, nor endeavor to get houses to lie in. I should be glad if the House were to prohibit spirituous liquors being sold in native districts, and I shall gladly support any motion of that sort brought forward. The persons who keep hotels in native districts have different modes of serving liquors to Europeans and natives. They sell to the natives something that resembles bluestone, tobacco, and pepper ; but the Europeans get good spirits. When the natives have drunk this liquor, they are affected with all sorts of diseases. They have hard breathing and coughs, and do not get over it. The police who are situated in native districts do not examine the spirits which are to be sold to the natives, and I hope the House will do something in the matter. I think it would be a very good plan to appoint a Maori policeman to taste their liquors ; and when any of these spirits that are like bluestone and pepper are found in these hotels, the proprietor should be heavily fined. But my chief wish is that there should be no spirits at all allowed in any native district.