LIVELY DEBATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 10 April 1937, Page 10

LIVELY DEBATE.

BY GENERAL SYNOD.

DRINKING AMONG MAORIS

Per Press Association. HAMILTON, April 10. A lengthy discussion was provoked last evening at the General Synod by a motion moved by Archdeacon R. Hodgson (Rotorua), “that this synod views with apprehension tlie excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor ill this country, and would urge a stricter application of the existing laws.” The archdeacon stated that the position was brought home in Rotorua, where hundreds of men employed on afforestation and public works contract jobs were “a fair prey for Rotorua liotels.” There was no question of graft or connivance by the police, but there was excessive drinking. People did not get drunk ill the Dominion as in England ; they were drugged, as inferior quality liquor was often sold. Tlio speaker had heard of prosecutions regarding the quality of liquor sold. “I resent the statement of an excessive consumption of liquor in this country,” said Mr H. A. R. Huggins, a layman, of Wellington. “Whatever the position might be in Rotorua, New Zealand is admittedly one of the most sober countries.” The motion was supported by Bishop Bennett, who said that at the recent Maori gathering in the Wellington district Maori leaders had deplored the increase in drinking among tlie young men of the various tribes and hoped something drastic would be done to protect young men from the ravages of the drink Jiabit. “1 have noticed a tremendous increase in the J drinking habits of tlie people, Maori !as well as pakeha, since easy money I lias come into their hands. Every Saturday finds the bars crowded, and 'I know of one case where the number of barmen has increased six times over on account of the free day on Saturday. It is very pathetic to find some Maori mothers roused almost to tears when they realise the havoc which | is being done to the race by the increased drinking habits of the people. They express the hope that the Government can be induced to prohibit tlie Maori people from procuring liquor altogether.” A novel note was struck by Bishop Holland (Wellington), who stated that he once ran a public house ior seven years. The hotel was known as the “Parson’s Pub” and was under disinterested management, and the profits went to pay the church organist. ‘■'My association with the public house led 'me to take up the whole problem. The only hope of making tlio liquor traffic a normal, and not an abnormal, tiling in the life of the community is the elimination of profits.” Tlie advisability of urging State control or other means of- eliminating private profits, also methods of dealing with drinking at dances, were under discussion when the synod adjourned. *