Bother
pp. 41-42 · Read in the full issue
Cook Is., Too, Has Beer Bother
NEW ZEALAND Truth , in an other of its sensational de spatches from the Islands, de dares that the bush-beer business
prospers while the Administration refuses spirits or beer to most of the Islanders.
It says the Cook Islanders are bitter “that New Zealand, which prides itself on the equality be tween Maori and European, tol erates an Administration which per mits nearly all Europeans in the Cook Group to have alcohol but few of the natives to have it.”
The facts, of course, are that the bush-beer business does prosper, but that restrictions on the sale of legal liquor are at the express wish of the elected and appointed members of the Cook Islands people. More over, permits are not refused to Maori residents unless they have a criminal record associated with
liquor or for some other equally good reason. The amount of liquoii granted is also related to the known income of the applicant—so that he will not waste money at the ex pense of his family’s welfare.
Most Islanders do not apply fori permits for the simple reason that) bush-beer (fermented orange juice)i is very much cheaper to produce than the cost of the legal, imported liquor. While that situation exists there will always be a preference for the former.
Another reason for bush-beer pre ference is its higher alcoholic con tent. There is no doubt that some 1 of these brews are much more harmful and crime-provoking than imported beer with its con trolled alcoholic content. Bush beer making has been a favourite i occupation of Rarotonga for at; least 50 years.
The Government could reduce; the consumption of bush-beer by 1 taking a realistic attitude and eas ing the duty on low-alcoholic; grades of imported beers so that; they could be sold at a price com parable with the cost and trouble of making bush-beer. This would not reduce the total consumption of liquor, but it would result in less damage to health. It would, also result in howls from various pressure groups, including missions and elements of the United Nations Organisation, unaware of the situation.
Pacific Biscuit Company and Union Soaps Pty. Ltd. have sent their fifth gift to the Ist Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment, in Malaya —a ton of biscuits and a ton of soap.