SALE OF LIQUOR TO MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2905, 18 October 1916, Page 6

SALE OF LIQUOR TO MAORIS

A PROTEST. rovolations made by the Bishop of Waiapu and his clergymen at tho recent Synod at Napier, carno ft? a -i r0!^ t s h°ck to all well-wishers of tho Maori people ill this Dominion. One does not know which to be most astonished at, tho sad deterioration of so nne a people, a s tho East Cape Alaoris ecminly were, or the impudent heartlessnoss of tho Europeans, who aro facilitating, and participating in, such a disgusting business as an illicit Maori drifts trade. Ic is not too much to say, that tho moral sense of the best people 111 this Dominion has been outraged by the news contained m the Press Association message sent through the Dominion by the Bishop and his clergymen. So faT, however, there does not appear to have been much notice taken of the Synod cbmplaint by the newspapers of New Zealand. It is generally assumed to be the duty of public journals to lead public opinion on all important matters affecting the well-being of tho people. We might therefore have expected an earnest protest from the Press whero the licensing laws are being so openly flouted as they apparently are on the east coast. A few weeks since, there was a general protest in the newspapers about a few thousand pounds of public-money being paid to officials enjoying good salaries, but respecting the laxity of the administration of the law where the health and life of the Maori people are concerned there has been no expenditure of righteous indignation. Can it be i possible that tho Press of this land does not care what becomes of the Maori? 1 Will they allow him to destroy himself with pakelia strong drink? Are they only interested in this fino race when they have land to sell? If it had been tho opening up of a little Maori territory for settlement the papers would have been ready with advice. Leaving out of sight the Maori and his claims to assistance in bis present condition, and also the sympathy right-minded people should extend to the Bishop of Waiapu and his clergy in their protest against so great a wrong, thero is another consideration of gravest importance relating to the maintenance of "our laws and the responsibility of those whose sacred duty; is is to administer them: Shall -we ait quietly by and tolerate such flagrant wickedness on tho pait of drink-sellers and the equally guilty apathy of those who will not enforcu laws they are paid to administer. The people of this la'nd are a long-suffering and generally a law-abiding community 1 But there is a limit to their endurance, 'i'hero are not wanting, however, just now intimations that the limit of the patience of tho best of our citizons and settlors has been well nigh reached. If there is not speedily some reform, tho drink trade may he swept away by the rising tido of the people's indignation, and those who tolerate it, defend it, and participate in it, bo onco for _ all discredited as candidates for positions of public trust. —I am, etc., SORRY FOR THE MAORI. [Tho matter referred to by our correspondent was brought under the notice of the Government some time ago. It certainly oalls for active measures on the part of the police.]