THE EXTENSIVE IMPORTATION OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 485, 17 June 1867, Page 2

THE EXTENSIVE IMPORTATION OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS.

TO. THE EDITOR OE THE TIHES. Sir, —Our little Province has already gained some notoriety by its capacity for importing and imbibing intoxicating liquors, and the ‘‘powers that Le ” seem bent upon taxing its capabilities in this respect to the utmost by increasing the facilities for procuring them, and by ignoring the law in regard to supplying the nalires with ardent spirits. Whether this policy is adopted to increase the recenue I know not ; it has, hoicecer, occasioned a great increase of drunkenness among the Maories, and ufers an insuperable obstacle io iheir moral and social advancement. Those who are responsible for the management of notice affairs in this Province would assuredly sene the interests of philanthropy and wise government by promptly checking the widcspread and growing evil, being one that has ever proved so fatal io serni-harbarous tribes. But setting aside the demoralization of the natives, evolved by the free use of ardent spirits, it becomes a matter for grave Consideration—now tint money is so scarce —whether we can veil afford to lacish so much upon an article which, to sai/ the least, aids not in Hie work of true colonization—the developing the resources of the country. It needs no skilled political economist to discover that the thousands of pounds yearly sent out of the Province for this item of luxury alone is greatly impoverishing it. Then why multiply licensed houses for the sdc of intoxicating liquors to an extent fur exceeding the u’.tua! rcqu.remenis of the scanty population, and foster 1 1 traffic which, by draining the Province of money, qjiralyscs local industry and legdhna'e traded Surety, Sir, Ihe saltiers S Hawke's Bay have higher and ladder aims than to become a besotted and degenerate people ; and good govern -| mint would scan to demand more beneficial results l than the social demoralization of its subjects, undl the utter extinction of the native race. — lcon, Argus.