MAORIS AND DRINK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19879, 4 March 1939, Page 16

MAORIS AND DRINK

CHALLENGE TO LEADERS TOO MANY "BLIND EYES" That the drink evil among Maoris was a challenge to Maori leadership, was the statement made by Rotarian Dr. 11. B. Turbott, of the Department of Health, when lie addressed the Rotary Conference in Napier. He said he did not think control of the problem would be obtained by European action, even if the present legal restrictions were increased. "Villages or Maori communities that indulge in drinking bouts of both sexes are rarely progressive," he said. "Their thought is muddled and they have no initiative as a community. Alcohol is not allowed by Sir Apirana Ngata to stultify progress on the East Coast; Princess To Puea disallowed alcohol on her schemes and in her Ngaruawahia pa. "Maori leadership is weakening in power because it is not being exercised. There are too, many Nelson blind eyes among the Maori, and >too many crying upon the pakeha for the help which can only develop affectively from among themselves, uaving seen huis, hangis and tribal meetings of many kinds rigidly controlled as regards drink by Maori leaders of the communities concerned, for more than a decade, there seems no reason why others cannot do likewise. A village or community habitually indulging in alcohol means a decadent leader, and in resuscitating failing Maori leadership lies the solution of the Maori drink problem."