BSI liquor Committee Recommends

[?]orthright Report on Native Drinking

BSI liquor Committee Recommends Trial For Licensed Liquor Areas

From a Honiara Correspondent Illicit drinking of liquor in the BSI is “widespread”, and the extent to which methylated and rectified spirits and “home brews” are consumed is alarming.

IHIS Is one of the conclusions reached by the Liquor Policy Committee, which has just made blic its report on its investigations ;o the drinking habits of Solomon anders. fhe committee’s report says that despread illicit drinking is par ularly prevalent in Honiara and ler townships, and supplies of ir and spirits are readily obtain [e. Drinking in Honiara is “more • rule than the exception”, t criticises those police who con er that it is useless to enforce i present laws and asserts that is the duty of the police to en ce the law as it stands. At sent, control over bottled liquor ss is so slack as to be ineffective, : report says.

"Wartime Habit"

t adds that the taste for liquor the BSI was probably acquired the natives from Allied troops •ing the war. Drinking is now vitable, but it is essential that nders should be taught the igers, and the least harmful ps of consuming it.

Tie report made these recom ndations: Licensed areas should be de •ed at Honiara, Auki and Gizo a 12 months’ trial period, and these areas, Solomon Islanders, ans and Indians over the age 20 should be able to drink beer trout restriction on licensed pre es.

Reputable Solomon Islanders, ans and Indians over 30 should permits to buy spirits or wine passes, and married men should eligible for permits to take 12 :les of beer home a month.

Outside the licensed areas, ited permits could be issued to )mon Islanders to buy 12 bottles beer, or one bottle of spirits a ith.

There should be increased alties for liquor offences, par larly for the illegal supply of Dr.

There should be no racial dis lination, and Solomon Islanders, ms and Indians should be al

lowed in public bars, and not have separate ones. But women should not be allowed in bars or to have permits of any kind, mid drinking

(Continued on jiage 150)

by them at home should be at the discretion of a husband, if he had a permit.

Licensed Restaurants

• Licensed restaurants should be established for small numbers who would be able to dine with their friends, in addition to the existing public bars. But the present bar hours should be shortened.

The Liquor Committee making the report comprised the Bishop of Melanesia; Father J. M. Wall: Mr.

A. C. Blair; Mr. W. Bennett: Mr.

A. J. Hunter: and Messrs. J. C.

Vouza and A. Daga, under the chairmanship of Mr. C. H. Allan.

Archdeacon H. V. C. Reynolds at tended when the Bishop of Melan esia was unable to be present.

The committee was set up to re port to the High Commissioner, and took evidence from a large number of people.

Under present laws, there is a permit system for beer drinkers, but Solomon Islanders aren’t al lowed to drink spirits.

The liquor report was debated in the BSIP Advisory Council on

March 28, during which the Cot officially noted the “serious imp; tions of the situation revealeii the report”, and recommended the Government should give recommendations of the comm “urgent consideration”.

All members spoke during the bate.

Some speakers, including Dudley Tutt and Mr. Salana ♦ considered the relaxation of trol was premature.

"Got Good Things"

Headman Vouza said that British had given the Solo Islanders all the good things now had, but not the right to o in bars. They had not witll axes and knives because someE might get hurt with them, and privilege of drinking should no witheld because somebody n hurt himself.

Other speakers said that hours should not be shortened,, v/omen should be allowed in, that provision of licensed res rants would place undue worl the police.