THE LIQUOR QUESTION IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 193, 4 September 1900, Page 2

THE LIQUOR QUESTION IN THE KING COUNTRY.

TO TUB EDITOR. Hot, —Whilo the Premier is doing lushest to open tho Ivng Country to 1 ho drink traffic, a recent occurrence at Waitara shows what umy be expected 1 if ho succeeded. A native named 1 llorima, who had beon granted the old age pension, wont to Waitira and drew his money. Straightway he repaired to an hotel, got drunk, and on his way homo at night lay down on the road. It was a cold, bitter night, and (he old man died from the exposure. This happens under license. No wonder the fiiends of the Maori desire to save the natives of the King Country from tho evils of tho legalised i traffic. Tho death of this respected old man is clearly duo to the traffic I which Mr. Seddon would extend, and 1 to tho old age pension scheme, where- • Mr, Seddon makes the providonfc pay for the support of many who are improvident. In pleasant contrast with Mr. Seddon's attitudo tow,mis the natives is that of Sir Alfred Mi'ncr, tho Governor of Cape Colony, who (as reported in the Cape Times of -Ith July) expressed himself as heartily sympathetic with tho movement to protect the nativo races of Afrioa from the ravages of driuk,—l um, olc , I'lli!-o Maori.