MUNICIPAL CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18395, 10 May 1923, Page 9

MUNICIPAL CONTROL.

LIQUOR IN KING COUNTRY.

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

TAUMARUNUI, Wednesday.

Considerable interest has'been aroused locally by the attempt which is being made to have licenses granted in the King Country. The position is that early in the ".eighties " the Maoris allowed the King Country to be opened up on condition that no liquor was sold in the district owing to the effect its consumption might have on the native race. The advocates of the gray ting of licenses hold that conditions ha'-'b altered greatly since the early days, that pakehas now greatly outnumber the Maoris, and that, the district is suffering on account of the present, restrictions. It is also claimed that the sly grog trade would be ousted if licenses were granted. It has been suggested that municipal control should be tried as an experiment. Those who oppose the granting of licenses contend that the introduction of liquor will demoralise the Maori race in this district and that it would mean the breaking of a solemn pact entered into with the native chiefs. That the question is now beyond the stage of suggestion is shown by the fact that at the meeting of the Borough Council last night a letter was received from the local Chamber of Commerce asking the council if it was prepared to appoint representatives to a conference at Taumarunui about the middle of June to discuss the licensing question. After considerable discussion, in which Messrs. J. E. Ward, S. Dryland, and P. C. Brew expressed their disapproval of licenses being granted, it was decided that the council appoint delegates to attend the conference.