A STRONG PROTEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 10 June 1909, Page 4

A STRONG PROTEST.

LIQUOR IN THE KING , COUNTRY., FOUR LICENSES ISSUED. NO-LICENSE PARTY INDIGNANT. On Friday the Taumaruuui Licensing Committee had a very long seesion at Waitara. The question at issue was the request for licenses in the King Country, and the debate went on till late in the evening. The end of it was that the Bench granted four applications: T. P. Leonard (Raetifci), J. Cody (Ohakune), Loftus Boyd (Rangataua), and M. Lund (Waitara). A MAGISTRATE ASSAILED.

“The position,’’ explained the Rev. Frank Isitt to a Wellington Post reporter, “is that no decision of the law courts has been given yet that the No License Party regards as more iniquitous than the one which was given at Waitara on the 4th June. Mr Fitzherbert, Stipendiary Magistrate for Taranaki, was ex-officio chairman of the committee, and the other five members were elected. Three of these members-voted against the issue oi licenses, and two in favor. Then the magistrate gave his deliberate vote for liquor, and finally his casting vote, thus taking upon himself the sole responsibility for the inti mir tiou of liquor into the King Ci nnlry. “GkOio INJUSTICE.”

“When it is remembered,” continued Mr Isitt, ‘‘that Europeans were admitted into the King Country only on condition that no liquor should be introduced —the old chiefs were intensely desirous that their people should be saved from its baleful influence —and if a man went into the King Country he kuewlhat to be the fact, it is, we think, evident that gross injustice h.:s b.*en done. In two instances, at least, the buildings where a wholesale trade in liquor is to be done will be on small areas which are alleged to be exempt from the conditions under which the King Country as a whole is held. Thus a ‘house’ will not be installed in the township of Ohakune, but away.” FIFTEEN SHILLINGS A BOTTLE.

“The evidence given that men had been willing to give 15s and more for a single bottle of whisky or brandy—and these men were frequently labourers—was an indication that it was not the sober section of the community that wanted the liquor,” commented Mr Isitt.

He was present, he resumed, very many years ago, when the Rev. Gittos, of Maori Mission fame, met a group of the old chiefs,, and he heard their strong pleas that liquor should not be admitted into the Urewera to degrade and deteriorate their race. This feature of the case was ignored by the magistrate on Friday and by the counsel who appeared in support of licenses. A POLITICAL BOYCOTT ? “Though very much might be said on the subject,” added Mr Isitt, “I think the position of the No-License Party may be summarised in this fact: It has already been suggested by , very many members that the Prohibition Party of New Zealand should be asked to vote for no man to go into Parliament at the next election unless he will pledge himself to right the wrong which has been done in the King Country by Mr Fitzherbert and those who voted with him. We also hold that in a question, submitted as this one is, to the public will, it should not be possible for an appointed magistrate to upset the decision of those who represent the people.” A MATTER OF ARGUABLE LAW. By statute law it is understood that the importation of alcoholic liquor into the King Country is prohibited. It was successfully contended, however, at Waifara that certain.areas were exempt by virtue of proclamation declaring them Crown Lands or by alienation to Europeans. Mr Isitt mentioned that his party’s solicitors were investigating the matter, and would make every possible legal effort to upset the decision of the Taumarunui Licensing Comrnirtee.