LIQUOR IN KING COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 9

LIQUOR IN KING COUNTRY.

LOCAL OPTION FAVOURED.

PACT HONOURED IN BREACH

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE KUITI. Monday. The question of local, option with regard to licensing in the King ' Country was discussed :at a meeting of citizens. Mr. H.T. Morton explained that a special Parliamentary Committee was now, taking evidence on the licensing question, particularly in regard to the introduction of local option in the King Country. It was important that those in favour of the proposal should kave their claims stated before the committee. Prohibitionists were opposing the movement very strongly. Their first objection to the movement had been that it would cause drunkenness. When they were shown that the yearly drink bill in certain parts of the, King Cjbuhtry amounted to £60,000, ' they adopted the defence that it was against the Treaty of Waitangi.: This was easily refutfed, and they - then pinned their faith to tthe provisions of a pact . between Sir ~ Bobert Stout and the natives, made in 1084. As a matter of fact, this pact had been dishonoured, and regularly broken almost from the daj -it was made. If the Maoris did not want; liquor «» they could be prohibited. The very considerable white population of the King Country should have the right of voting on the matter. The chief purpose of the meeting was to form a committee to appoint delegates to state their case before tie Parliamentary Committee. After several other speakers • had addressed the meeting in favour of local option, a motion was carried "that this meeting, of citizens of Te Kuiti is of opinion that the existing licensing legislation should be amended in the direct on of'providing a i local option poll in* the King Cmi-fltry. thus granting to residents of , this district the 'same, rights and privileges as are enjoyed by the rest of the Dominion." Several- committees were appointed to lay aspects of the ! question , before the Parliamentary Committee. >