THE HAUHAUS AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 25, 18 October 1873, Page 11

THE HAUHAUS AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

I WAS recently informed by a gentleman in tlie Wiikato that one strong reason why the king natives, or the more respectable portion of them, are so averse to European intercourse is their dread of liquor and its fatal fruits. How far this may be the case I r\nnot tell. The gentleman I allude to is himself a resident in tho licg country, and allied to the natives by blood. Whether my informant be correct or not, this I do know of my own personal knowledge, that a petition against the issue of a liquor license was sent uj» to the Licensing Magistrate?, at Hamilton, from the residents of a certain Waikato village, and the majority of the petitioners were Maoris, most of them H-iuhaus, I believe. I signed the petition myself. This occurred very recently. One of the grounds upon which the petitioners objected to the license in such a locality, was that the common sale of liquor in such a neighbourhood was sure tc demoralize the natives and lead to scenes of disorder, and probably bloodshed amonu thf m, and Europeans also, as it had done in every other place where it was introduced. The native clergyman exerted all his influence with the people and authorities to prevent the dreaded issue of the license, and so did the English clergyman of the district. The license was refused. There are, of course, counter-influences at work, and it is much to be feared the license will yet be granted, let the consequences be what they may. Sir, I but think that a petition of this kind, having been signed t>y so^many natives, upwards of 30 m number, reflects great credit on the native race, more especially when we consider that, like his while brother, the Maori loves his glass well. We know to our cost that the uatire has no small share of physical courage ; and we see by his signing such a petition as this that he possesses not a little moral courage too, or a spirit of mortification and self-denial, which is the highest kind of moral courage. I may be told that the natives did not attach their names to this petition as free agents, but that they acted under pressure — under " undue influence " of their clergyman and others in doing so. It is easy to say, or insinuate, that such was the case ; but for my part, until it be proved I will not believe it. J. W.