ONE-SIDED PROHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 4 March 1920, Page 4

ONE-SIDED PROHIBITION.

Per Press Association. • Wellington, March 4 In view of the stir caused in Samoa some months ago by the proclamation announcing prohibition of the importation, ‘manufacture or •ale of alcoholic liquors, members of the Parliamentary party on the Mokoia, during a lecture aboard, listened with obvious interest to the remarks of Mr F. W. Platts, resident Commissioner for Cook Islands, in reference to the position in that group. He said : “In Cook Islands .there is State control, but I cannot say that it is a success. No liquor is allowed to natives, and it never will be as long as New Zealand has control, bat the white community is permitted to obtain it. This gives the natives a grievance. They complain that the beat of their people are not allowed to procure liquor, whilst the worst of the Europeans can get as much as they like. That a small European community set in the midst of a large native population should be allowed liquor whilst, natives are prohibited, is wrong in principle. The Administration makes about £4OO per annum from the sale of liquor, and this it would gladly forego if liquor could be cut out altogether.