LIQUOR AT MAORI TANGIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 252, 25 October 1901, Page 2

LIQUOR AT MAORI TANGIS.

! Reporting; upon the various petitions laid before the House in relation to alleged degradation of Maoris in Taranaki through drink at tangis, the Public Patitions Committee reports that the evidence taken shows that alcoholic liquors are largoly consumed at tangis by natives in Taranaki; that there appears to be no difficulty in obtaining liquor in large quantities; that the orgies that sometimes occur are disgraceful, and the general efftc s ' are physically and morally d«1 grading to the native people; ' and the committee therefore recom- ' mended that legislation should be intro- ■ duced with a view of restricting the • sale of alcoholic liquors to the native ■ race. Mr Kaihau asserted on Tuesday 1 that the reports of excessive drinking " amongst the Maoris m the Taranaki dis- ' trict are largely exaggerated, and sug- • gested that an inquiry should ba held. ' The Hon. J. Carroll said that there was ' no doubt a certain section of the comf munity inclined to give credence to re--5 ports of this kind; but he had reason 3 to believe that there were grounds for 3 the statements made about the Tara- ' naki district He suggested that power 3 should be given to the Maori Councils 3 to report any excessive drinking in any ■ district to the Governor-in-Council, " and apply that such district should be ■ declared prohibited under the Licens--1 ing Act. He intended to visit th< - Taranaki district during the recess and inquire into the allegations as to excessive drinking.