The Maori Viewpoint

It is said that in the early days of settlement in New Zealand, a Maori who had become intoxicated was placed in the stocks. A notable citizen passing inquired the cause of his being there. The Maori replied, ‘You put me here for being drunk, but you let the man who sold me the stuff that made me drunk go free. Why?’ The incident is depicted in the above illustration. The question asked by the Maori still remains with us—Why do we arrest the drunkard and punish him, and license the sellers of intoxicating liquor that makes men drunk?