WHANGANUI.
June 15th 1874. A Petition from all of us, whose names are signed at the foot hereof, to all the Members of the Parliament to grant this request of ours for some Law to be passed by the Assembly, and the Government affecting this evil thing, grog, which is destroying us, so that a "stop may be put to drinking among the Maoris, for that is at the root of the evils from which we suffer. These are the evils:—lt impoverishes us; our children are not born healthy, because the parents drink to excess and the children suffer. It niuddles men's brains, and they, in ignorance, sign important documents, and get into trouble thereby; grog also turns the intelligent men of the Maori race into fools. Again, grog is the cause of various diseases which afflict us, we are also liable to accidents such as tumbling off horses, and falling into the water. These things occur thoagh drunkenness. It also leads on men to take improper liberties with other men's wives ; and it is the cause of men fighting with each other. In fact, there are innumerable evils brought upon the Maori race by grog. We therefore ask that a very stringent Law may be passed to keep away this very evil thing from the Maories altogether. Let only medical men have authority to allow the people to take liquor medicinally, if they think it will lead to the recovery of the patient or patients whom they may be treating. That would be right, Sufficient, we trust that all the Members of the House will grant our prayer. From us all to Mr. Fox, Friend, we give this Petition to you, and request that you will urge that the prayer of it may be granted, and an Act passed to stop the Maories drinking. If you have any regard for us the Maori people, send away this evil Leviathan which you brought to this Island to destroy us, our Lands,* and our children. Sufficient, friend, be strong There is an ever existing God to look at good works, and at the people who are good and show kindness to to the poor and foolish ones of the earth. Sir, do this for us, Long may you be spared on account of your energy in raising your voice against this great snake liquor, during the years which have passed. Sufficient, from your friends who are living in sadness on account of this evil. Haimona te Ao-o-te-Eangi. And 167 others, males and females.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WANANG18741210.2.5
Bibliographic details
Wananga, Volume 1, Issue 9, 10 December 1874, Page 47
Word Count
422WHANGANUI. Wananga, Volume 1, Issue 9, 10 December 1874, Page 47
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