EAST COAST NATIVES

Nelson Evening Mail, 30 September 1916, Page 3

EAST COAST NATIVES

DEPLORABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS. [United Pbess Association.) NAPIER, Sept. 28. In a debate to-night on a report of the committee on liquor and Maoris, presented to the Anglican Synod, the Rev. Digby Wilson, Waipiro Bay, said that no language could- be too strong to describe the state of things now existing among the Maoris fxom Tokomaru to Hicks Bay. Six years ago things were "wonderfully better. He thought that in no part of the world, except the West Coast of Africa, was the condition of things so bad. It would be hard to conceive of a "worse state of affairs. Bishop Sedgwick said, no words of his could describe the condition of things oil the East Coast. There had been a marked, deterioration all along the East Coast during the past two years that was utterly deplorable. He had written to Ministers and to Mr Ngata- about it. The matter must constantly, 'be brought 'before the attention of the authorities. He had' heard of little children' and women being drunk and incapable of walking about . | Tli e Rev. Mr, Barnett (Tolaga Bay) corroborated what others- had' said. The state of things at Hauiti Pa during a I recent tangi was too dreadful for words, j The man responsible for the tangi had | paid' out £SOO. mostly for drink. -He d-are not describe to the Synod in detail what he had seen. This drunkenness was nearly all due to-pakehas introducing drink from outside districts. The report stated that the liquor obtained by North Island Natives was injurious to the physique of the race, was retarding their advance, and destroying the foundation of their character.