LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 8 June 1910, Page 5

LIQUOR IN THE KING COUNTRY

A CONFERENCE HELD. KING MAHUTA AND NO-LICENSE DELEGATES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, List Night. A conference of some importance in connection with King Coiuitrv affairs took place yesterday at Waahi, Mahuta's settlement near Huntly, between the Hon. Mr. Mahuta ami representative chiefs of the Waikato and Iheßohi Potai on one side, and Mr. Wesley Sprago- the president of the New. Zealand Alliance for the Prohibition of the Liquor Traffic, and the Revs. John Dawson (secretary) ami William dittos on the other side." The conference was sought for by the representatives i< the Alliance on account of reports which have been in circulation that the Maoris were willing, if not anxious, to have the proclamation of 1884. whereby -liquor was to be kept out of the King Country for ever, annulled. Messrs. Spra-g, Dawson, and Gittos were present upon the invitation of the Hon. Mr. Mahuta. which had been secured for them by the Hon. Mr. Ngata. The Rev, William Gittos introduced the deputation and explained its object, which was to enquire what was the real attitude of the Maoris towards the proclamation of (he Rohi Potai as a prohibited district, so that the Alliance might have information at first hand. The llev. John Dawson i:id Mr. Spragg followed, first by describing the objects of the Alliance and then bv briefly' setting forth the situation, arid asking for Mahuta's powerful aid to keep liquor out of the King Country. The Hon. Mr. Mahuta, in reply, said: "My words -hall not bo manv. but few, about the Rohi .Potai. Those'words (the proclamation) shall never be altered—they never shall be. The intention of our Maori Councils is that we will not have liquor in the district. This thing shall be again discussed at our great meetings. .1 quite approve of what von ask. for I shall stand by the word of 'our fathers and our grandfathers. Their •word was right. I will do as you ask, and will send a message to mv people through the Council to say that the word of our fathers is to stand, and that no liquor shall come into the Rohi Potai."