SPECIAL LIQUOR POLL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18267, 7 December 1922, Page 8

SPECIAL LIQUOR POLL.

HOROUTA MAORI D.'STRTCT.

RESTORATION' REPORTED CARRIED [BV. TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBOSNE. Wednesday. Details of the liquor poll in the Horonta Maori district are not available, but the East Coast correspondent of the Gisborne Times states that "restoration" was carried by an overwhelming majority. The Horouta district vent "dry" in 1911 by 551 votes to 444. As an illustration of the votiiig on this occasion, the result at Te Araroa was: For restoration, 131 votes: for prohibition. 10 votes.

Under legislation passed in 1910, a polj was taken in six Maori Council districts to decide whether it the wish of the natives that they should be able to buy liquor on licensed premises as Europeans may do. With the exception of Horouta Maori district, they all voted for the continuance of the supply of liquor under tho existing licensing laws to the natives in their respective districts: but in Horouta, by a majority of 107 votes, the natives carried a limited prohibition— that iiquor should not bo supplied to natives in tha* district. As explained by the Hon A. T. Ngata, if the present poll is carried, it will not alter the existing law; that liquor may not be taken into native villages, or be supplied to natives for consumption off licensed premises, or to Maori women. Those restrictions will stand. The only difference' made, if this poll is carried in this particuLir district, is that licensed houses mav seil liquor to the natives of the district for consumption on the premises. The authority for the present poll was given by legislation passed last session.