THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, DEC. 6, 1909 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 214, 6 December 1909, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. MONDAY, DEC. 6, 1909 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

AS will be seen by advertisement in another column a meeting is to be held in Hattaway's Hall Te Kuiti on Wednesday evening next for the purpose of discussing the position with regard to the liquor restrictions in the King Country. It will be remembered that some months ago a meeting wan held at Te Kutii when resolutions condemn- i ing the existing state of things, and urging that the district be placed on ! the same footing with respect to local option as other locality in the Dominion, were Tarried. Subsequently the ' representative',; of the New Zealand Alliance were approarhed with a vkw 'o a.s."i.«,tinK in formulating » <fch'rn<- ; -

which would be satisfactory to all parties. The Alliance delegates after investigating the matter exhorted the people to make no effort to change their status as a change would lead to the abrogation of an agreement made with the Maoris prior to the district being opened for European settlement. Reasonable people who understand the local conditions are convinced that if any virtue attached to the ancient agreement, the necessity for its existence in the interests of the Natives has ceased long since. The restrictions inflicted on the districrt are undoubtedly irksome, and not in consonance with the principles of liberty held sacred by every subject under the British flag, and the people are merely upholding the best traditions of their race in agitating for equal rights and privileges with their fellow subjects. Conscientious people whose cherished principles lead them to oppose liquor on every shape and form are apt, in

their zeal, to misconstrue the actions of others in advocating a change of conditions. It has to be remembered however, that the broad fundamental principle of liberty is not to be hampered in its application, and the equities of the case have to be considered apart from individual prejudice, or party leaning of any description. The underlying principle of the present agitation deals not with license or nolicense, and the very fact of an endeavour having been made to co-operate with the Alliance on a common ground was surely a tribute to the disinterestedness of the local people. That the Alliance advocates were unable to rise to the necessary heights is to be regretted, but the incident should serve to spur the people on to renewed efforts. The issue is plain,and people of every shape of opinion on the liquor question should endeavour to cooperate with a view to obtaining a constitutional right. The Alliance shrinks at the mention of coercion in connection with its cause, and proudly declaims about the will of the people yet strenuously supports coercive measures when opportunity occurs. This is not the spirit in which to meet a liberty-loving people, nor the manner in which to advance a cause which in ofßer to progress should appeal spontaneously to the highest instincts of humanity. The cause of no-license, as will be seen by a glance at the last local option returns, does not find fav • our in the King Country, and it will continue to languish as long as people are irked and trammelled by obnoxious restrictions. Let the party leaders face the position fairly, and disdaining subterfuge, and side issues, endeavour to have the issue placed in ths hands of the people, and they will reestablish confidence in their methods, and will have nothing to fear as to the results. They will moreover be surscribing to their favorite doctrine af majority rule.