ISLANDS AND LIQUOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10559, 9 April 1920, Page 3

ISLANDS AND LIQUOR

PROHIBITION PROBABLE ANYTHING BUT A WELCOME VISITATION. (Special to tlie "Times.”) One develops a pretty lively thirst 'Under tropic skies. The loss of moisture by perspiration is tremendous; it simply oozes through the skin and rapidly soaks the annor clothing, running in little rivulets down the body, or dropping “in bends off the hands and face. Then comes Uio need for something to supply the place of vanished moisture, and just what thalt something is to be is causing some little concern just' now. It is safe to assert that a majority of the whites prefer a "stick” in it, with many of them ilt is a religion. They regard a .drop of something cold and "hard” as an essential to health, and any talk of (stopping tlie supply raises a bit of a panic. The stoppage of supplies is not yet absolute in Samoa, but it is getting on that way, for no further liquors may bo imported and the existing supplies have so rundown that the last hotel has died' a natural death. It closer! its doors on the last day of last month because there was nothing left to sell, the funeral of John Barleycorn being observed with fitting obsequies, including flags at half mast, and toasts of an early resurrection. LIQUOR RATIONING. Importation of supplies is still going on in the Cook Group, where the people are fully satisfied with the system. There is no open bar in the islands, but the people are on rations, and a Government official is the rationing officer. There is no fixed ration, hut each white can purchase according to his needs, the native and the half-caste being absolutely barred. If the issuing officer thinks that any of his customers-is making the pace a hit hot he outs down his supply. If that proves ineffective he cuts it out altogether, puts him on a sort of temporary prohibition list and odviscs others, on pain of similar action, not to supply him. If, on the other hand, the officer knows that a resident has been entertaining visitors he is ready to loosen up another bottle or two "as requisite.” In discussing this matter on the ship. Mr Platts, the Resident Commissioner, expressed himself in favour of making the group absolutely dry. He said that so long as Now Zealand controlled the group, the natives would never be allowed to obtain liquor, but the fact that tho whites could obtain it gave the Maoris a grievance. They complained that tho best of their people were not allowed to procure liquor, while the worst of the whites could get as much as they liked. That tlie small European community set in the midst of a large native community should be allowed liquor whilst the natives were prohibited, was wrong in principle. The Administration made about L'tOO a year from the sale of liquor, but would gladly forgo that if the liquor could be cut out altogether.

There is some probability that this will eventuate. The whites asked for representation on the Island Council, which in accordance with a promise made at the time of the annexation consists soleIj of natives. At Sir James Allen's instance, and after a lot of hesitation, the natives agreed to grant representation to the whites on certain conditions, one being that no more liguor should be brought into the group. This offer will bo dealt with bv Cabinet, which in ay incorporate it in an amending Act and thus bring prohibition to the group. Samoa’s drought .was brought about, by Proclamation No. C 7. a proclamation which probably caused more soreness among the people than all the other restrictive orders put together. In stating their case against it. to the Parliamentary party, the Citizens’ Committee stated that the loss of revenue was JJjOOO per annum; how was it proposed to replace this? They claimed that in the tropics a certain amount of alcohol was necessary to the systpm, and that during the epidemic thousands of lives wore saved by its use. The mandate did not provide for total prohibition. It provided that liquor must not be sold to the natives; but to say that it could not bo kept from thorn except bv. instituting prohibition was absurd. With only two white police officers the Gormans were able to so control thd liquor traffic that drinking among the natives was practically unknown. During ’ the military occupation tho natives wore unquestionably supplied with liquor, but since the departure of the forces there had been LitWo sign of drink amongst the natives. From too beginning the majority of the residents wore not in favour of Samoa being placed under the control of New Zealand, and the forcing of this measure without any consultation had almost completely alienated the sympathies of the public. If it were persisted in New Zealand would find the difficulties of her task considerably enhanced,. and trade with the Dominion would bo confined to commodities not obtainable elsewhere. The high-handed and autocratic action of the Government in forcing prohibition on Samoa without consulting the residents had caused a feeling of grave mistrust, and was considered as wholly unworthy of the democratic pretensions of New Zealand. They asked for the revocation of tho order or its amendment to allow of strict Govern, ment control. AN UNCOMPROMISING “NO."

Sir James'Allen .gave a straight and uncompromising answer. 11ig uiattei

was considered bv the Rational Government before it dissolved, and it resolved that prohibition ought-to prevail-'amougsi, the whites if it is to prevail- -amongst the natives of Samoa. This -was latci confirmed by the Reform Government. Ho wanted to induce them to see that the Sew Zealand Government had acted rightly. The covenants .of the ’ League of Nations provided certain, ..mandatories, and stated that there were , territories which could best he administered under the laws of the mandatory "as integral portions of its territory; •'stibye'et' t 6 safe-' •'iiards in the interests of the indigenous population. These safeguards included the prohibition of abuses such us the slave trade, the arms traffic, and the liquor traffic." Under this mandatory the Samoans must be the supply of liquor. He did not see how it was possible „to prevent liquor reaching these natives ;were-allowed To come in for the use of the, whites. We had had experience of, the,.Cobk.Group, and knew that liquor reached the; natives there. He knew that-liquor-reach, ed the natives in Samoa, hut, iwwould not bo consistent with her trust if New Zealand did not do everything possible to prevent liquor reaching the Samoan. Again, a mere handful of willies were living amid 3«,00U Samoans, a proud, dignified race. If at the commencement of the civil regime a discrimination between white and native "ere established, where was it going to end? The digcriniindtion would lead to difficulties which the Government must do all it could to avoid. They had,* therefore, prohibited the importation of liquor into Samba, but had not yet taken the final step of prohibiting its consumption. Provision would bq. jpade ,fpr tatidn of liqur for medicinal ’purposes, for Sacramental us'd, aria ’for Industrial and scientific purposes. Sir James concluded with a strong appeal to the citizens of • Samoa to accept the decision of the Government, to make the sacrifice willingly, in order to help the Samoan. The sacrifices made during the war by those who stayed behind were as nothing as compared with the sacrifice of those ttJio ivent to the front. Kow they had their opportune ty of also doing something by. way ot sacrifice in the interest of a great people. ' TONGA'S LIQUOR SYSTEM.

In Tonga, an island kingdom ruled by its own queen, under the protectorate of Great Britain, it was found that whites were allowed to purchase iiquor freely, unless they showed signs of abusing the privilege, when they were placed on the prohibited list. In addition gi. hundred natives 'were given licenses to purchase liquor, on the understanding that they did not pass it on to other natives not deemed worthy of---inclusion J 'in -the list. There ' was ■ - practically • - no abuse of liquor in the group, both whites and licensed natives being very temperate in the use of alcoholic beverages. . OPEN HOUSE JN FIJI.

In Fiji the first open bars since the departure from 'Wellington were seen. There are four hotels..in, Suva, rfor...the use of Europeans only. They have, the 11 o’clock' license there, and' the hotels are open for three two-hour spells on Sundays. The Colonial Office administers the group, and applies the same bolu;s as were perinft't'ed fix Britain before the war. There are some pretty lively times in Suva on occasions, mostly when overseas steamers are in port, and a street fight or'two , 'is"no j tmusual thing on "steame.r day.”