LIQUUR IN SHE KING COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2526, 12 June 1909, Page 6

LIQUUR IN SHE KING COUNTRY.

A STRONG PrtOTEST.

FOUR LICENSES ISSUED

NO-LICENSE PARTY INDIGNANT

Last week the Taumarunui Licenek,g Committee had a very lonf; tess»n at AVaitara. The question at iwue was the request for licenses in the King Country and the debate went on till EtefnAhe S (OhStL), Xltangatoua), and M. Lund (Waitara). A MAGISTRATE ASSAILED “The position,” explained the Frank Isitt m speaking to a ton. ‘-' Eot ?;’4TS““h a f been 4 gi“°sr° Waite™ on 4th run? Mr “Fitzherhert, Stipendiary Magistrate for Taranaki, was ex-officio chaTrman of the committee and the o her five members were elected IW« of these members voted against the w of licenses, and two in th e magistrate gave dehbeiat ? olo J?!i utn himself the rng vot£? > r ® t^e introduction sole responsibility *° r lintr _ of liquor into the King Count y. “GROSS INJUSTICE. -When it is remembered,”’ continued Mr Isitt “that Europeans weie admit til into the Kmg Conntey rntfMtouSrite 1 ;-" desirous that thoir people should be sat« gasir^i which are alleged to to exempt horn the conditions "*J FIFTEEN SHILLINGS A BOITLE ‘•The evidence given that men hadbedii willing to give 15s and more foi a single bottle of whisky or brandgrand these men were frequently labor tS — W as an indication that it )'’ as n °£ the sober section of the community that wanted the liquor,” commented Mi 1 He was present, ho resumed, very many years ago, whrin the Rev Dittos, of Maori Mission fame met a group of the okl chiefs, and he board their stroim pleas that liquor should not be admitted into the Urewera to degradeand deteriorate their race. This feature of the case was ignored by tiro magistrate and by the counsel who appeared in support of licenses. A POLITICAL BOYCOTT?

“Though very much might be said on ilio subject,” added Mr ‘lsitt, • 1 thunk the position of tho No-license Party may bo summarised in this fact: It has already been suggested by very many members that the Prohibition Party or New Zealand should be asked to vote for no man to go into Parliament at the next election unless he will pledge himself to right the wrong which lias been done in the King Country by Mr Fit-zberbert aind those who voted with him. We also hold that in a question, submitted as this one is, to the pub.io -will, it should not be possible for an appointed magistrate to upset the decision of those who represent the pco-

pie.”

A MATTER OF ARGUABLE LAW. By statute law it is understood that the importation of alcoholic liquor into the King Country is prohibited. It was successfully contended, however, at Waitara that certain areas were exempt- by virtue of proclamation declaring them Crown Lands or by alienation to Europeans. Mr Isitt mentioned that his party’s solicitors were investigating the matter, and -would make every possible legal effort to upset the decision of the Tauraarumu Licensing Committee.