THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13652, 21 July 1908, Page 5

THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

AMONG- THE MAORIS. Per Press Association. WELLING ON,, July £O. A deputation from the Maori Congress submitted a petition to the Prime Minister to-day, praying i that -it be • enacted thafc either tha supply. of liquor be .■absolutely prohibited both > to. Maoris . and also to half-castes living in Maori settlements amongst Maoris, or-.else thab power be given to the Maori people' to express an opinion and to .vote upon the . question whether or not liquor should bei 'supplied to Maoris, whether . within ifclte ■ existing Maori electoral areas or within the' Maori Councils; districts. ' ■ • ' >•

Sir Joseph Ward promised that thia question should receive the fullest aud most, careful consideration. .It war an easy matter however, because if any legislation was introduced on licensing, matters it would 'opea the • floodgates ' for proposals by anybody. But he was in full sympathy with the . request, ' and: would do all in his power to-.further it; He certainly thought the Maoris should have the power, as they had the right, to vote on the liquor question, which wast an important one affecting themselves and their descendants. 5 , . Whetherr-.thW could be d<Sne this. session he but tho Cabinet would consider "the/-ad-visibility of bringing the mutter, forward*,

INVERCARGILL,; July 20. The police to-night, again ' raided the Carriers Arms Hotel, kept by. Mr find Mrs Poff,. who were recently convicted, and fined £SO each. A small quantity of liquor was found in the hotel to-night^