THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, SEPT. 13, 1909 THE LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 190, 13 September 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, SEPT. 13, 1909 THE LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS.

"THE leopard cannot change his u spots " This saying was never more ' truly exemplified than at the meeting f held, at Tc Kuiti last Wednesday evening for the ostensible per pose of discussing the position with regard to the liquor situation. No-license advocates occupied the platform in force, and proceedings were opened by scv- , era! of the visitors who delivered . addresses. The speeches contained ■ very little concerning the position of " the district, and that little chiefly consisted of assuring the audience I that the district was really not badly off and should be rather pleased over its position. A great deal was made of the old Maori agreement, and the wearisome platitude, thai settlers in the district knew what they were coming to and had no right to attempt to alter the conditions was flaunted before the meeting as it it was one of the fixed and 1 cherished truths that had come unal--1 tered down the arch of Time since the creation. To say that the result of the meeting was disappointing but inadequately expresses the feeling of those residents who believe that the present position is unsatisfactory,and who earnestly desire to have matters placed on a better footing. The experience, however, is useful inasmuch as it clearly denotes the utter futility of attempting to obtain the co-operation of the no-ilcense party in securing constitutional rights" and privileges for the King Country equal to those of the rest of the Dominion. Whether the attitude adopted is ill-advised or not is for the leaders of the party to determine, but it certainly seems regrettable that n common ground could not have been established whereon a fair and well considered understanding could have been arrived at in the interests of the general public. The question is not one of license or nolicense; nor is it being agitated in the interest iof any cult or party. Rather are those who have hitherto been identified with the agitation anxious to promote a movement, which,while providing for the granting of constitutional rights and privileges to the public.will make the possibility of licenses being established so remote a< to amount to almost an impossibility. The principle at stake is an infinitely greater one than any which may be claimed as animating the no-license party, despite declamatory speeches and appeals to the emotional side of human nature. We do ot seek to condemn the methods by which the party endeavours to advance its cause,but when these methods | are used to obscure a great issue based jon a sound fundamental principle; | when friendly co-operation is sought, | and the request unmistakeably sidetracked, there is much to be said in deprecation of an attitude which cannot be held to dignify any great cause. We have dealt with the subject in its various phases on previous occasions, and can only reiterate that King Country residents should not rest until they have secured equal rights and privileges with the rest of the Dominion. The old Maori agreement is being used by the no-license party as a lever to withhold from our people their rights. It is safe to assume that had the agreement never existed, some other equally fallacious argument would have been act up for the purpose. It is to b<regretted that co-operation with theparty has been found impossible. However, the movement for equality of treatment will proceed, and it behoves all those who are inspired with feelings of independence and broad public spirit to cooperate for the general guod. |