WANGANUI RIVER LICENSES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 670, 8 January 1903, Page 22

WANGANUI RIVER LICENSES.

The refusal of the Wanganui. Licensing Committee to grant licenses for the river steamers beyond Parakino, which is on the boundary of the King , Country prohibition area, is arousing much just indignation, as' it threatens to check the tourist traffic. The committee sought the advice of the Chief Justice, who informed them that they would be perfectly justified in granting the licenses, at the same time' going out of his way to state that if they considered it right, in the interests of the native race, they could refuse the licenses. One of the members of the committee has written to the press to say that tlheir action was prompted by a desire to save a ° noble race ” from extinction. Whereupon, the Wanganui “Herald” writes:— “It may be desirable to prevent the Maoris from purchasing liquor either on the river steamers or in the hotels, but there is no law empowering Licensing Committees to insist on licensees refusing to sell alcoholic liquor to adult Maoris, nor is; it proper that Europeans should be precluded from getting such stimulants l on licensed steamers, or in hotels, providing they are not debarred by ‘ prohibition Orders ’ issued by a proper, authority on proof that those against whom such orders are applied for are habitual drunkards.

Those who now refer to the Maoris as ‘ a noble people ’ have not always done so ; on the contrary, they have in times past been quite ready to shoot these ‘ noble people ’ down and ‘ improve ’ them off the face of the earth in order to dispossess them of their lands. The fact of the matter is the Wanganui Licensing Committee has been trying to enforce Prohibition in places where the electors have so far refused to legalise such a policy, and to do so have taken advantage of their position to force their own opinions on those who hold diametrically opposite ones. Is this either just or desirable ? We think not.”

A correspondent, signing, himself “ Tourist,” writes to the same journal :—“ Sir, —I have just returned from a trip over your beautiful river, having come a long way to see New Zealand’s' Rhine. The trip itself was most enjoyable, and the scenery exceeds all that has been claimed for it. The steamer is well conducted, and the employees courteous and obliging, but there is one serious drawback? to a tourist’s pleasure in having prohibition forced on him merely because he travels instead of remaining at home. About mid-day, on the voyage to Pipiriki, mindful of the apostle’s advice to take a little wine, etc., I went down to the saloon to have a glass as usual before lunch, but was informed by the steward that the bar was closed, as the boat was only licensed for a few miles of the journey, and anyone who wants a drink must take it soon after breakfast or go without. Further inquiry elicited the fact that you have a Prohibition Bench, who think a tourist does not require creature comforts, and that liquor should be carried in one’s luggage, instead of being obtained as required; Now, sir, I must protest, in the interests of those who travel for pleasure, against treatment like this. Tourists are not children, and people able to travel about, and who can afford to do so, can surely be allowed to please themselves in matters appertaining to their own comfort. I have never been debarred from obtaining liquor on any steamer before, and I can tell you, .sir, that the people of Wanganui will be the losers if they allow faddists to interfere with the pleasure and comfort of the tourist class by tryamnical regulations as to what they shall drink. Apologising for trespassing on your space.”

The new Commercial Hotel, Wanganui, is now in the hands of Mr A. Summers, and in another column the proprietor informs the public that he has excellent accommodation for tourists, and travellers. The hotel is within half a minutes’ walk of the river steamers. Dunedin beer is always on tap, and the best brands .of wines, and spirits kept in stock.