PROHIBITION IN THE TROPICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17903, 7 April 1920, Page 6

PROHIBITION IN THE TROPICS

SAMOA AND RAROTONGA. (From Our , Special Representative). In every island at ■which the members of the New Zealand Parliamentary party touched the question of liquor control was brought prominently before them, and in. almost every case the white community was dismayed to hear of the determination of tho New Zealand Government to enforce complete prohibition. ■ _ Atßarotonga, where prohibition is com- ' ing into force forthwith Sir James Allen was well fortified in his decision by what he had seen at Aitutaki and elsewhere, though the Rarotonga community itself has not abused the arrangement under which the Colleotor of Customs ie the rationing officer. There it is understood that if a man abuses his allowance or Jβ seen drunk m public he cannot expect to get more liquor for a , considerable time. At Apia, in Samoa, the Citizens' Committee made a strong protest against the decision to introduce prohibition. It had been clearly proved, they said, that without whisky it would have been impossible for the white men to do the prodigies which they undoubtedly did "in combating the influenza epidemic. Not only did they work incessantly relieving the sick amongst tho natives, but they even undertook the ghastly task of burying the native dead after they had kin, often for three or four days, in their huts. The citizens claimed that liquor did not roach the natives in Sumoa through them. They had never wished to be -governed by New Zealand, and if this, measure was forced on them New Zealand would commence her administration of Samoa bitterly opposed by almost the whole of the white settlers. Sir James Allen said, in his reply, that the- National Government had resolved that prohibition should prevail amongst whites if it was to be successful amongst the. natives. That decision had been confirmed by the Reiorm Government, and ho was anxious tnat they should see' that New Zealand was doing right in the matter. By the covenant of the League of Nations, which was embodied in the Peace Treaty, it was declared to be the sacred trust of the protecting , nations to secure the well-being and development of the native races in the former German colonies. Moreover, tho prohibi- l tion of the traffic in liquor, arms, and slaves was enjoined upon all lands under mandatory government. Consequently, in taking over the islands on these terms, New Zealand had to prohibit absolutely the' sale of liquor.

"I don't see how it is possible," continued Sir James, "to prevent liquor reaching the natives if we allow it to come into the country for the use of the whites. We have had experience in the Cook group, where we know that liquor does reach the natives. I also know that it reaches them in Samoa. It will not be consistent with oar trust, therefore, if we do not do everything we possibly can to prevent it reaching the Samoan native. There is another reason for it. You are living here, a hand, ful of whites, amongst the Samoans, a proud, dignified race. If we are to establish at the commencement of our civil administration a discrimination between white and native, what is it going to lead tot There is only one conclusion.' Ultimately the Samoan will say: 'Why are we to be treated in a different way to the whites? Am I any worse than they, or any less to be trusted? , Wte have prohibited the importation, but have not yet taken the final step to stop consumption in Samoa. Provision will bo made for a supply of liquor for medicinal, sacramental, scientific, and industrial puruoses'. I am going to speak to you as white men like ourselves. lam not a total abstainer myself, but I do put it to you that there is a lead we may follow in what our men have done at the front We whites have seen something of the sacrifices that they have made during the last five years. What have we done who have stayed at home? Perhaps we have sacrificed some of our property and means, but that is paltry. Now we have an > opportunity to do something, 'to give up &ome of our luxuries, aivd so to hdp the proud and dignified race of Samoa." Not a single one of the white communities that ■Wβ haye visited has accepted the prohibition decision with a good grace. One has to see theeo tropical beaches to understand iuet what it means"to be deprived of alcoholio liquor. It was :. strange paradox to find at Swva, in Fiji, the full schedule of English potiiehonse hours observed. Not only are the bars open from daylight to 11 p.m. , on week days, but for eight hours on Sundays.