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June, in an article condemning prohibition, added, " We have never maintained that alcohol is equally good for all men, but have urged for years that the negro of all grades, from some peculiarity of his brain, requires total abstinence for at least a century or two as a condition of his civilisation." "Without comparing the Maori to the negro, I urge that if the London Spectator deems a century or two of prohibition necessary to insure the negro's civilisation, we are justified in asking that the Maori shail be saved from liquor for at least a generation. 186. The Chairman.] I suppose you are aware of the fact that the law would have to be considerably amended for absolute prohibition ?—Yes; the law seriously needs amending. 187. Do you believe the Maoris of to-day are more sober than they were twenty-five years ago?—l should have thought so; but one of the sworn declarations states that there is more drunkenness now than twenty years ago. 188. Mr. Lawry.] 1 think you said that Wahanui was mad ? —Wahanui's brother told the Premier that Wahanui was insane at the time that he (Wahanui) asked for prohibition; and Mr. Gittos said the same statement was made against Bewi when he favoured prohibition. At the time we visited Wahanui he spoke with perfect calmness and perfect memory; it was, I should say, absolutely untrue to say that he was mad at that time. 189. Was he examined as to his sanity by medical men ?—No, sir, there was nothing of that sort. 190. I suppose you know that it is very difficult to say whether a man is mad or not? —Yes. 191. Was Mr. Gittos long there that he could speak in this way?—He was there then three or four days. 191 a. What is Mr. Gittos ?—He is the Wesleyan missionary to the Maoris, residing at Auckland. 191b. Is it part of his duty to visit the King-country ?—lt is his duty to go to Otorohanga at intervals. 191 c. He would often see Wahanui ?—Yes. 191 d. Evidently Kahu Huatere was not qualified to make the statement as to Wahanui's insanity ? —No. The Chairman : It is impossible for you to say that. 192. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] These documents that you have put in : most of them are sworn declarations. Were they in response to an application from yourself ?—Yes. 193. Have you a copy of the letter asking for this information ?—I did not bring it, but I shall be glad to produce it. It was a simple statement asking for information. The Chairman: I think it would be well to have the letter that brought ,about these statements. 194. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] You visited the King-country in 1896?— Yes. 195. Did you think the Natives intelligent ? —Yes. I am not sure that they seemed to me more so than other Maoris; but Wahanui struck me as being very intelligent. I enjoyed my visit, because the Maoris were friendly and intelligent. 196. You found them really an intelligent class of men ?—Yes. 197. You do not mean to compare them with the " niggers " you referred to just now ?—No ; but, with regard to alcohol, they are in worse plight than the negro. The Maori is the only race that had no alcohol until the European brought it to him. 'He is more defenceless against alcohol than any people on the face of the earth of whom I know anything. 198. Why ?—Because he is not inured to it. The negro and the Kaffir have for many generations been accustomed to some form of intoxicant. 199. This is not a question of saying whether liquor shall be admitted to the King-country, but whether it shall be placed in the same position as other parts of the colony, and the Natives have the right to vote Yes or No ?—They have no such vote in other parts of the colony. 200. You would not trust the Maoris to vote on this question ?■ —No. I am an extreme Radical, a socialist, but I dare not advocate giving a vote on this question, because, as I have said, centuries of drinking have made alcohol comparatively harmless to us, but the Maoris have never had any liquor of his own until we gave them a highly spirited injurious liquor. 201. Do you think that the Maori, who you say is intelligent, can form an opinion as to whether liquor is good for him or not?—No, I do not thhik so. Some of the most intelligent Europeans are not able to do so. Intelligence does not save many of our own people from being ruined by drink. 202. You are satisfied that the Natives you have met are an intelligent class of men?— Yes. 203. Do you not think that the effect of taking a poll would be that liquor would not be granted ? —lt might or it might not, but I think it is a very great mistake for New Zealand to lead the way in giving them the right to say if they shall have it. 204. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] The resolutions that have been carried from time to time and in various parts of the colony, were they carried in response to your request ?—At the request of the Alliance executive. The executive submits drafts of resolutions to local committees for approval or amendment. It sends the resolutions as finally approved to its members throughout the colony, and requests them to call meetings and submit the resolutions. 205. You, then, draft the resolutions? —In that way, yes. One reason is that we are dealing with a great many people, some of whom have strong opinions but are not capable of expressing just what they want to say. 206. You draw up forms of motions and petitions and send them to various parts of the colony to adopt them if they approve of them ?—Yes. 207. Is this frequently done ?—Yes. 208. Wahanui, I understand, and some of the Maori chiefs, expressed a wish for the Otorohanga license to be granted ? —Wahanui sent the petition which he headed, and which was signed by some hundred Maoris. He said to Mr. Gittos that he was urged from financial reasons to take the step he did.

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