INTOXICATING DRINKS AND THE NATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1517, 25 March 1882, Page 3

INTOXICATING DRINKS AND THE NATIVES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — Judging by the almost unanimous testimony of tourists, newspaper correspondents, and others, the step taken by the Premiei 1 , when he was at the Lakes a few weeks ago, in enforcing the provisions of the new Licensing Act prohibiting the supply of grog to the Maoris, has not been taken a day too soon. It is only what might have been expected that on the part of certain "interested" individuals a great outcry should be made against this restriction of the " liberty" of the free-born native to promote his individual demoralization and to improve himself off the face of the earth. But the action of the Premier appears to have been thoroughly deliberate, and only resolved upon after very careful investigation in conjunction with Major Mair into all the facts of the case. Henceforth the police must rigidly enforce the law ; and despite the suppression of a lucrative traffic, the injury done to "vested inttresti," &c. &c, I for one trust and believe that the agitation that has been set on foot for the removal of the prohibition will be of no avail. A leading article in a recent issue of the Auckland Star thus describes the frightful and astounding results attending the grog traffic among the natives at Ohinemutu : — "We speak with authority in stating that the debaucheries of Rotorua, rendered possible by drunkenness, and promoted in some instances by the enlightened AngloSaxon, shock all sense of decency, shake our faith in the moral elevation of English civilization, and almost shatter one's convictionsof thedivine superiority of man over the brute creation. Darwin has his best apostles among the intellectual (?) Englishmen who can find a Sunday night's amusement in tempting with double payment of grog and money, a semi-savage people of both sexes, halfmad with liquor, to exhibit the \i ildest sensualities of the Jiaka in a state of absolute nudity. That has happened at Ohinemutu. Drink among the Rotorua natives is associated with disgusting debaucheries, and has been used for the express purpose of overcoming any moral restraint the natives in their sober moments possess. The condition of the Maoris under a system so diabolical — so disgraceful to British law and decencyhas become deplorable. One shrinks with horror at the very thought of it. The natives neglect their plantations and their homes for the purpose of poisoning their bodies and defacing every trace of human nobility. Tourists who have recently visited the district represent their conduct as something unparalleled in English countries— ,as something beyond the power of speech or pencil to pourtray. The curses, and yells, and shrieks during their periodical orgies are described as more like those of demons than of the most depraved human beings. Their tangis, or funerals, which have always shocked our ideas of propriety, are rendered more loathsome than ever with the help of rum and gin. In their debauched and crazed state they prolong their howlings, and, not unfrequently, maltreat the corpse around which their disgusting ceremonies are performed. Indeed, it would seem that rum enters into every phase of a Maori funeral, and that it has completely sapped the foundations of their social system and physical health." I regard it as a matter for warm congratulation that the countiy has a Ministry in office that has not only abjured the flour and sugar policy, but that lias shown such commendable energy and resolution in promoting the moral and social wellbeing of the native race. Such a Government is deserving of the warmest thanks of all lovers of temperance, using that word in its broadest sense. Though not as urgent perhaps as the Rotorua case, there are other places where the natives assemble from time to time that require some little attention from men of the type of the Piemier of this colony. — I am, &c. D. and 0. Cambridge, March 22nd.