MAORI LIQUOR POLL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 22 December 1911, Page 4

MAORI LIQUOR POLL.

THE "DRY" AREA. Tho cflooti of the Maori liquor poll uudel' which ouo district went "dry" to the Maoris is. oxplainod by tho "Poverty Bay Herald":—Tho Horouta district, tho Natives of which decided against tho supply of liquor to Maoris, comprises tho wholo of the East Capo district. It cmbodies all that area to the north of Tnwhiti, midway between Tokoinaru and Waipiro Bays, thence by a straight lino westward across to tho Motu River, down the latter to- tho Motu township, and theuco to the sea between Torero and Opotiki. Tho Motu township is just outfide tho area. There are no fewer than seven hotels in the district in question, viz.: Te Kaha, Te'Araroa, Te Raliui, Port. Awunui' (2), Tuparoa, and AVaipiro Bay. The bulk of the trade of these hotels has undoubtedly been with tho Natives, and tho decision that liquor shall not be supplied to Maoris must bo of serious financial consequence. Tho carrying of tho poll in the Horouta district, although a foregone conclusion, is a testimony to the efforts of the Young Maori Party. Tho influenco of tho Hon. A. T. Ngata, who, with Dr. TV Rangihiroa, was responsible for tho introduction of the legislative authority for the taking of the poll, was also an important factor in deciding tho issue. Owing to the distance the voting papers have to travel to reach Gisbottio ten days or a fortnight will probably elapse before the rehuuiug officer makes his declaration of tha result of the poll. Ifpon the expiry of one month from that date it would, therefore, apponr to lw illegal to supply liquor to any Native in the Horouta district.