LIQUOR FOR NATIVES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 8

LIQUOR FOR NATIVES.

In the course of a letter to the Minister in charge of the Police Department, Mr. W. H. Field, M.P. for Otaki, refers to what he describes as the serious and growing evil, in breach of the law, of supplying strong drink to .Natives for consumption at their meetings, tangis, and at their home's. "More than on e case has during the past few weeks come under my personal notice in my own district," &»'• says, "and 1 am in a position to judge of the disastrous effect of drink consumption at these gatherings. The little children are the ones who suffer most. Many a Native child's death has been directly due to neglect resulting from its parents participating in a drinking bout at a Native tangi. The moment a death occurs the relatives and friends at one e cease work of all kinds, no matter at what loss or inconvenience ir themselves and their employers, and set themselves to gather together food and drink for the entertainment of their funeral guests. They improvidently sell, all their stock and goods, very 'often at great sacrifice, including even the family cow, if money is tint otherwise procurable. A well-order ?d mid brief tangi without drink cannot be taken serious objetion to, but the admission of drink in any quantity often converts such a gathering into a disgraceful orgy, and extends its duration for many days. That drink is being: procured by the Natives somewhere,-without difficulty, is be-

yond doubt, but the transactions are so covered as in most casas to escape detection by the police, though every effort is mad. 1 to trae 0 the cnlprts. I am informed that railway 'official?; are not allowed to divulge to the poiice the names of consignors, consignees , and recipients of drink carried, on the railway. If this is the case, instructions should at once b e given that railway servants should give the police all assistance possible. The subject is one which -requires the immediate and effective attention of the Government, and I deem it my duty to thrs draw your attention to it. If the present law is insufficient it should be made more stringent.''