MAORIS AND LIQUOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 4

MAORIS AND LIQUOR

NATIVE CONTROL MEASURES

SUCCESS OF WARDEN SYSTEM (P.A.) ROTORUA, Mar. 23.

“ When wage conditions were reinstated by the Government and the Maori people in this district found themselves suddenly possessed of ample pocket money, following a long period of deprivation and unemployment, the question of uncontrolled and excessive drinking in public bars immediately began to exercise the minds of the leaders of the people and also the responsible pakehas who have a friendly in the Maori race,” said the chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, Mr Z. Mitchell, at a Maori conference yesterday. “It was felt that it would be detrimental to the prestige of the race if irresponsible members were permitted to spend money unchecked that should have gone to provide necessaries in the home, and that excessive drinking, bringing in its wake bar room arguments and possible disturbances in which the police became involved, would bring the Maori into disrepute and retard progress to the full opportunity and equality for which we have been working for many years,” said Mr Mitchell. ‘'When the matter was brought before the notice of the district hotels it was dealt with promptly and sympathetically. The problem was thoroughly thrashed out at a series of meetings. “As a result, it was decided to place the onus of control on our own people, in,conjunction with the hotel keepers. Accordingly, a number of Maori wardens were appointed and rules were drawn up and prominently exhibited in Maori in the hotel bars. It was the duty of the wardens quietly to patrol the bars where any Maori was noticed to be oyer-indulging in drinking. A quiet word from the warden was very effective, and a marked improvement in bar room conduct generally was effected. When any individual became intractable the warden was given power to issue either temporarily or for a longer period a prohibition instruction to the barman, and this also proved very effective. “One matter that has been of concern in the Arawa district has been the drinking in pas. Tribal committees and Women’s Health League branches strongly disapprove of this . tendency. Supplies of liquor for drinking in the pas have not been obtained from the hotels, and apparently have been obtained from sly-grog sellers, unscrupulous pakehas, or from sources outside tjie district altogether. The police have 'been instructed by the Licensing Committee to keep a strict watch on this tendency, and the discovered cases have been severely dealt with in the courts. As a result, there has been a marked decrease in complaints. “The system of Maori wardens has met with considerable success,” Mr Mitchell concluded. “Itis a system that I can recommend for adoption whenever the problem arises, t The system stimulates the Maori’s sense of responsibility to the necessity cf good conduct and moderation by showing him it has received the co-operation of his people, who participate in its observance, and is not a restriction forced upon him by a purely pakeha law."