MAORIS AND DRINK

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 155, 8 March 1939, Page 4

MAORIS AND DRINK

CHALLENGE TO '‘LEADER TOO MANY “BLIND -EYES” . ,V ; * %£:\, That the drink evil among 'Maoris was a' challenge to Maori leadership, was the statement made by Rotaria.it Hr. H.' B, Turbott, of the Department of Health, when he addressed the Rotary Conference in Napier. He said he did not think control of the problem woulclf he obtained by European action, even if the present legal 'restrictions jvere increased. - ;• Vj... “Villages or Maori communities that indulge in drinking bouts of both sexes are rarely progressive,” lie said. •“Their thought is muddled and have no initiative as a community. Alcohol is not allowed by Sir Apirana Ngata to stultify progress on the East * Coast; ..s;.pfincess Te Puea disallowed alcohol qn her schemes and in her Ngaruawahia pa. “Maori leadership is weakening in.|C power because it is not being exercised. are too many Nelson blind eyes among' the Maori, and too , many crying upon the pakeha for the j*. help : >vhjch\ can only develop A effectively ffoiff. among themselves. ' Having seen liuis, tangis and j tribal meetings, of many kinds q'igidly cdn-' trolled :as " regards drink by ‘Maori leaders of the communities concerned, for more tlian ah decade, there’ seems • r%. • j,** no reason why-'others cannot do likewise. A village or community habit ally indulging in alcohol means a decadent leader, and ■in resuscitating failing Maori leadership lies the solu-. tion of the Maori drink problem.” ;•