Anglicans and Drink Problem

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 8

Anglicans and Drink Problem

“PULL BARS ON SATURDAY’* BISHOP BENNETT’S FEARS FOR THE MAORI P*r Press Association. HAMILTON, April 10. A lengthy discussion was provoked last evening at General Synod by a motion moved by Archdeacon Hodgson (Rotorua): That this Synod views with apprehension the excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor in this country and would urge the stricter application of the existing laws. The Archdeacon stated that the post tion was brought home in Rotorua where hundreds of men employed ii Afforestation and Public Works contract jobs were fair prey for Rotorus hotels. There was no question of grafl or connivance by the police, but thers was excessive drinking. People did get drunk in the Dominion as in England; they were drugged, as an inferior quality of liquor was often sold. Th« speaker said he had heard of prosecutions regarding the quality of liquor sold.

*'l resent the statement that theri is an excessive consumption of liquor in this country,*' said Mr. H. A. R Huggins, a layman, of Wellington. “Whatever the position may be ir Rotorua, New Zealand is admittedly on# of the most sober countries.**

The motion was supported by Bishop Bennett, who said that at a recent Maori gathering in the Wellington District Maori leaders deplored the increase in drinking among young men of various tribes and hoped that something drastic would be done to protect them from the ravages of the habit. '*l bare noticed a tremendous increase in the drinking habits of tin people, Maori as well as pakeba sinci easy money came into their hands, *• added Bishop Bennett. “Every Saturday finds the bars crowded, and I know of one case where the number of barmen was increased six times over oo account of the free day on Saturday. Ii a very pathetic to find some Maon nether* roused almost to tears when ;hey realise the havoc which is being done to their race by the increased drinking habits of the people. They 'xpress the hope that the Government an be induced to prohibit the Maori »eople from procuring liquor altogether.”

A novel note was struck by Bishop Holland (Wellington), who stated that e once ran a public house for seven fears. The hotel was known as Parson’s Pub. It was under disinterested mantgement and the profits went to pay die church organist. “My association with the public house ed me to take up the whole problem,” te eaid. “The only hope of making the iquor a normal and not an abnormal diing in the life of the community is he elimination of private profits.’’ The advisability of urging State con*ol or other means of eliminating pri'at« profits, also methods of dealing nth the drinking-at-dances problem rare under discussion when Synod adourned.