“Home-Brew”

Plea for Revision of Archaic Liquor Laws

From a Special Correspondent

Rarotonga, April 4.

rnHE punishment in Apia recently of X Europeans and Samoans for manu facturing “home-brew” suggests that the Administration will probably follow in the future the line taken by the neighbouring Administration of the Cook Islands.

Here, in this Group, persons convicted of the manufacture of “home-brew”, which is usually made under the filthiest conditions, in kerosene tins, are fined from £1 upwards, and those found guilty of consuming it, from 10/- to £2, according to the frequency of their convictions. In most cases, these fines are paid off by work on the roads, at the rate of 2/- per day.

The recent remark by Dr. E. Jacomb, a visiting barrister and author, that the first thing he saw when coming ashore at Rarotonga was a drunken native, is no exaggeration. Primitive or near-primitive races have always been partial to heavy drinking, and the Rarotongan is no exception.

It is common knowledge here that heavy drinking is extensively indulged in in flagrant opposition to the law. The attitude of the Administration, however, seems to be that as long as sufficient labour is recruited each week for the upkeep of the roads, its task is done.

The glaring faults of this system, apart from the effects of habitual and exces sive drinking of the tainted brews on the health and morale of the people, are the disrepute of the law of the land and the possibility of favouritism and victimisation.

Sensible and constructive suggestions regarding liquor laws, put forward by thinking Europeans, are:— 1. The making of home-brewed beer from pure ingredients and in clean con tainers and the consumption thereof should be permitted. 2. Drunkenness, disorderliness and the manufacture of intoxicants in any other form should be punished with the utmost severity.

Short-sighted protests from certain quarters would immediately result, but clear thinking and the facing of facts should over-rule these.

The Rarotongans are perhaps excep tional amongst “native” races in view of the high percentage of European blood and the high standard of living to which most of them have in the past been accustomed. An intelligent and lovable race such as they are deserve of our best efforts on their behalf and the reform of this “archaic liquor law would be an admirable step forward.

MAJOR G. H. ALLEN, manager for the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.. Ltd., at Rarawai, Ba, in Fiji, for over 20 years, has been appointed C.S.R. man ager at Lautoka.

Mr. Sydney Scholes. Of Sala

maua, was married on April 6, to MISS PHYLLIS PARTRIDGE, of Western Aus tralia. They went by plane to Port Moresby, for their honeymoon. Mr.

Scholes is popular in Salamaua and, at the wedding reception, he and his bride received the hearty good wishes of the whole community.