FIJI AND FEDERATION

Lake County Press, Issue 977, 29 August 1901, Page 2

FIJI AND FEDERATION

THE NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE’S PROTEST. WELLINGTON, August 21. The Prohibitionist party have drawn up a petition for presentation to King Edward praying that, in the event of the incorporation of Fiji with New Zealand or the Commonwealth, the existing laws governing the sale of intoxicating liquors in Fiji shall be maintained. The petition is in these terms: To His Most Excellent Majesty the King. The humble petition of the undersigned residents in the colony of New Zealand showeth: 1. That efforts are being made to unite the colony of Fiji with the colony of New Zealand or with the Commonwealth of Australia. 2. That at present in the colony of Fiji due and proper provision is made to prevent the Fijians being injured by the consumption of intoxicating liquors. 3. That there is at present in New Zealand one large native district in which no licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquor are issued, but the Government of New Zealand have failed, though often requested to do so. to take efficient measures to prevent the introduction of alcoholic liquors into that native district.

4. That Ministers of the Crown have stated that in their opinion intoxicating liquors should be sold in that native district under Government control. 5. That there is nothing so injurious to the well-being of the native race as indulgence in intoxicating liquors. 6. That if Fiji becomes part of New Zealand or of Australia there is no guarantee that the beneficial legislation which now prevents the supply of intoxicants to the native Fijians will be maintained. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Majesty will take the matter into your serious consideration, and provide that if Fiji be annexed to the colony of New Zealand or to the Commonwealth of Australia the existing laws as to the sale of intoxicating liquors in Fiji shall, be maintained.

It is proposed to ask members of Parliament, heads of churches, and representatives of local bodies to sign the petition. The first appeal, however, has not borne fruit. Members of the House of Representatives declined to append their signatures to the document, on the ground that in the first instance the Government ought to have been appealed to, and failing their compliance with the request of the Alliance and the promoters of the petition, it would then have been time to Lave resorted to the King direct.