Public Opinion.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1556, 6 March 1874, Page 140

Public Opinion.

THE SHANTY-KEEPERS AND THEIR ORGAN. Otago Guardian, i The licensed victuallers in the Marton and Kangitikei districts, according to the Wanganui Herald, have formed an association "upon a most substantial basis, the object of which will be to secure mutual protection." Now, what would our readers conceive to be the object of this association ? It would scarcely be credited, but it is nevertheless true, that the publicans in the districts named have banded themselves together to sustain their individual and collective riuht to demoralize the native people by the unrestricted sale to them of alcoholic liquor. The local Herald, so far from condemning the publicans, expressly encourages them, and condemns the spirit dealers of Turakina for not making common cause with the Rangitikei-Marton publicans. It sa y g: —«"W"e regret that we cannot include Turakina in the same honorable list, but we must injustice to the others express our disappointment and dissatisfaction with the line of conduct adopted by the licensed victuallers resident in that township. Although each was separately invited to attend, and although the object to be attained direcily and individually concerned themselves, yet the spirit of indifference and disunion so completely overcame their better judgment, that even at a juncture of importance like the present, where all should have united for mutual co-opera-tion, Turakina, of all the adjacent townships, alone was unrepresented. We certainly cannot compliment Turakina in this instance on the public spirit shown by the licensed victuallers carrying on business in that district. Much of the retrogression of that township is due to this self-same absence of unanimity and combination in matters for the successful accomplishment of which these attributes are so necessary." We quote this from our Wanganui con temporary, because we feel that were we to state its substance merely, our readers might suppose that, we did not quite accurately reflect its opinion. There can be no mistake, however, on the point. We reprint the foregoing passage from its leading article of the 7th instant, and certain we are that, under the circumstances, similar opinions would scarcely find expression in any other newspaper in the colony. It appears that the Colonial Government, in view of the alarming increase of drunkenness among the natives, and in deference to the policy of Parliament as embodied in statute law, sent circulars to the publicans in native districts, prohibiting the sale of spirits to persons of the Maori race. This was felt to be an infringement of their liberties by the Rangitikei-Marton liquor vendors, and they forthwith met, and " fully discussed the merits of the case." Their local organ, the Herald, thus describes what took place:- - " The consideration of the matter was entered into in a calm and rational spirit, and, as we expected, the palpable injustice of the measure was uureservedly criticized. Several present stated their experience in regard to • native trade,' and it was admitted that but for this most legitimate addition to their business, it would be simply impossible for many to keep their houses open. A Licensed Victuallers' Association was formed upon a most substantial basis, the object of which will be to secure mutual protection." If anything were wanting to condemn the whole proceeding, it is to be found in the admission of the publicans themselves that but for the' native trade' it would be impossible for many to keep their houses open. This being the case, let the superfluous houses be shut, and only such kept open as may be required for the accommodation of travellers. It surely is uot to be tolerated that the peace of the country is to be constantly imperilled for the sake of maintaining a few Europeans in idleness, by the sale of intoxicating drinks in native districts. It is only the other day that a sensation telegram was sent through the colony from the same quarter, and which had its origin in a drunken brawl in one of the drinking dens Bought to be kept open by associated action, and was compromised, as our readers will remember, by the payment of ,£5, and " a bucket of beer," to the natives. The truth is, the demoralization of the Maori people is the sole outcome of the sale of drink in the filthy groggeries which are scattered all over the North Island;—dens of filth and infamy at which no decent person would willingly put up. The public of the colony expect the Government to put an end to this highly dangerous traffic in native districts. The Native Minister may count upon the moral support of every right-thinking man in New Zealand, in his efforts to suppress drunkeness among the native people; and if examples are to be made of the law-breakers, it is as well to make a beginning at Rangitikei-Marton. Every one familiar with New Zealand politics must remember the terrible demoralization of the colonial forces in the same line of country, during the operations against Titokowaru; .and persons familiar with the subject well know that, but for the prevalent drunkenness amongst the natives, the expenditure on the Armed Constabulary of the North Island might be largely curtailed. This is a vital question, because although the charge of that force is now borne °upon loan, unless the natives are thoroughly reduced to order, when the Joan has been exhausted the further expenditure will fall upon revenue, which means that the Middle Island would be again compelled to find money for native .purposes in the North Island. Is it worth while, we ask, running this risk, that the owners of a few grog shanties in aative districts •" may keep their houses open"? We unhesitatingly say that it <is not. This question is, therefore, a colonial one, and it is in that aspect that .we notice it at all. Tho Wanganui 'Herald also looks at it from the same;

point of view, while using arguments in favor of moderate drinking among the Maoris not dissimilar in substance to arguments which, strangely enough, were used at the late Diocesan Synod in Dunedin. The Herald says:—"Under the present system, less serious results will be the consequence from the moderate use of spirituous liquors by the natives, under supervision of the police, than by debarring them entirely from access to such places of resort, and thus driving them to other and less legitimate means of procuring what many of them regard as a necessary stimulant. A moderate use of ardent spirits, and the feeling that he is on a footing of equality with the white man as regards liberty and respectability of action, will do more towards elevating the Maori in a moral sense than occasional inordinate indulgences, with the inevitably demoralizing effects, and the sense of degradation caused by the reflection that legislation for him partakes of restraint and prohibition more than it does for the pakehas." We say in reply to this: Close the public-houses in native districts, and the necessity for maintaining a police force to "supervise" the Maoris while drinking there, and during their subsequent intoxication, will not exist. The Middle Island taxpayers object to find the money for police supervision to " protect" the North Island liquor traffic, and call upon the Government to enforce the law against selling spirits to natives with the utmost rigour. Should the natives, as alleged, obtain spirits from wholesale dealers, these dealer's will in turn be ivisited with penalties. In conclusion, we have to thank the Wanganui Herald for making public this combination of spirit dealers to resist the law, demoralize the native population, and imperil the peace of the colony. ROADSIDE INNS. Timaru Herald. By no possibility could workmen or travellers be more uncomfortable or desolate than in the average accommodation house. The rooms are murky uninteresting places; not a book or a paper is to be found ; there is scarcely a place to sit down in ; quiet, or retirement, is out of the question ; there is no garden oi; outdoor place of any sort, where idle men can go. The whole establishment seems to be made purposely so wretched and forlorn, that an unfortunate sojourner in it, must either drink or die of sheer lone liuess and boredom. This is a terrible temptation to uneducated men, and it is hard to blame them if they yield to it without resistance. It seems to be quite overlooked that accommodation houses are not primarily intended for men to get drunk in. They are in reality designed for posts where travellers may get board and lodging, and stabling for their horses, and the sale of drink in them at all, is merely au accidental and quite unnecessary addition to the original plau. It is an addition, the absence of which would bean infinite blessing to the community. There is no reason in the world why an accommodation house should be less comfortable or inviting than any other sort of tenement ; a cob cottage in a garden, kept clean and sweet, with a long trough outside under a shed for washing in, would really meet the requirements of the public more fully, tend more to public morality and private comfort, and be better in all respects than nineteen out of twenty roadside inns in New Zealand. Why should not good taste and good feeliug be brought to bear on these houses as well as on others ? It is true that the men who chiefly frequent them are rough and coarse; with low ideas, and no sense of refinement about them; but the reason why they are so is mainly because they know no other atmosphere than the vile surroundings of the pothouse—because their notions of human happiness are drawn, God help them! from the bar-room of a public house, Can it be supposed that they would not prefer to be decent and comfortable, and to save their money aud live like respectable men, instead of wallowing in drink and filthy talk, and blasphemy and violence? It is a libel on human nature and on the national character, to maintain such an argument. Last week one of the class we speak of after spending all his money at a public house, blew his brains out with elaborate care. The jury who enquired into the circumstances, found that he complained he was too near the public house, and seemed sorry that he had spent J 822 in drink in three or four days, and got ten shillings into the landlord's debt as well. Seemed sorry ! poor fellow, well he might. A verdict was found that he was in his right senses when he blew his brains out, and we think so too, If there were no other course open but to do that or return to the pot-house and poison himself we think he took the better course. THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS. Otago Guardian. The political horizon of England is far from clear. It will be a difficult task for the Conservative leader to satisfy the reactionary party, and keep pace with the progress of Liberal ideas, which will drag him irresistibly forward. He may for a time sanctify the sale of strong drink, and spare the Church the pangs of divorce from its temporalities; but the time is not distant when the Imperial Parliament will get rid of the national sin of drunkenness, by ceasing to encourage and profit by it, and also when the bishops and clergy of the State- Church wili be compelled to choose between God and Mammon, instead of rendering a divided service to both, which they must do as State stipendiaries. As we conceive that the present triumph of the Conservatives is calculated to hasten these results, we are not sorry at it.