Fix this text
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
Fix this text177
Fix this text1904.
Fix this textPAPUA (BRITISH NEW GUINEA).
Fix this textSPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.—CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTIN G
Fix this textTHE SUGGESTED PROHIBITION AGAINST THEIR
Fix this textINTRODUCTION, MANUFACTURE, AND SALE.
Fix this textPresented by Command; ordered to be printed, 18tli October, 1904.
Fix this text[Cost of Paper.—Preparation not given ; 900 copies ; approximate cost of printing and publishing, £18.]
Fix this textDespatch from Acting Administrator, British New Guinea, to the Governor-
Fix this textGeneral.—No. 50. Dated 3rd September, 1903.
Fix this textMy Lord,
Fix this textWith further reference to my telegraphed despatch of 28th August in code, I have the honour
Fix this textto enclose for Your Excellency’s information a table showing spirituous liquors imported into Bri-
Fix this texttish New Guinea during the last four financial years.
Fix this textYour Excellency will be able to refer to the legislation in force in this Possession for the regu-
Fix this textlation of the liquor trade, more particularly referred to in my telegraphed despatch, so that it will not
Fix this textbe necessary for me to refer to them in further detail.
Fix this text2. I can only add that the introduction of such drastic legislation affecting the white popu-
Fix this textlation is, in my opinion, entirely uncalled for by the existing state of affairs, and is viewed with
Fix this textmuch apprehension by myself and my Council, as well as by those possessing extensive vested busi-
Fix this textness interests in the community. From a financial point of view especially, the effects of such a
Fix this textprohibition will deplete a revenue already inadequate for the purposes of this extensive territory.
Fix this text3. It is of the rarest occurrence for a native to be given liquor in the Possession, save some-
Fix this texttimes medicinally, and there is no crying evil calling for redress. The only natives of the Possession
Fix this textwho are to any extent addicted to the use of liquor are those of the Western Division, who have
Fix this textacquired a taste for it when engaged on the Queensland pearling fleet; but no licensed premises have
Fix this textbeen allowed to exist at Daru for that reason.
Fix this text4. Miners as a class are accustomed to the use (and abuse also, for that matter) of alcoholic
Fix this textliquors, and it will be a very easy matter to introduce them across the border of German New Guinea,
Fix this textwhere they can be obtained duty free.
Fix this textIt would be almost an impossibility to prevent the landing of the prohibited articles on these
Fix this textshores without a number of efficient coast-guard vessels for which no provisions can be made.
Fix this text5. Furthermore, I may state my opinion, based upon some experience of the tropics, that a
Fix this textlittle stimulant is practically a necessity in this climate. The case of one clerical dignitary in par-
Fix this textticular may be quoted as an example. He was a strict teetotaller before corning to New Guinea, but
Fix this textnow finds in his own case that strict teetotalism is unwise in this climate.
Fix this text6. I am also informed on the same authority, moreover, that the use of alcohol has been found
Fix this texton several occasions of the greatest benefit for medicinal purposes in treating sick natives.
Fix this text7. If, however, the proposed prohibition be carried out, neither a missionary nor a miner on
Fix this textthe gold-fields will be able to procure a bottle of spirits to alleviate pressing sickness, except on
Fix this textapplication to a medical officer, of whom there are but two—one at Port Moresby and the other at
Fix this textSamarai, both hundreds of miles from the gold-fields.
Fix this text8. The state of the liquor trade in Thursday Island, referred to in such strong terms by Sena-
Fix this texttor Smith, can never prevail in British New Guinea under the laws now in force.
Fix this textI have, &c.,
Fix this textHis Excellency,
Fix this textThe Governor-General of Australia,
Fix this textMelbourne.
Fix this textNo. 47.—F. 10614*
Fix this text(Sgd.) CHRIS. ROBINSON,
Fix this textActing Administrator.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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Australia. Parliament House of Representatives, issuing body. (1904). Papua (British New Guinea) : Spirituous liquors : correspondence respecting the suggested prohibition against their introduction, manufacture and sale Retrieved May 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2772887985
Australia. Parliament House of Representatives, issuing body. Papua (British New Guinea) : Spirituous liquors : correspondence respecting the suggested prohibition against their introduction, manufacture and sale [Melbourne], Victoria: Printed and published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer for the State of Victoria, 1904. Web. 12 May 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2772887985>
Australia. Parliament House of Representatives, issuing body. 1904, Papua (British New Guinea) : Spirituous liquors : correspondence respecting the suggested prohibition against their introduction, manufacture and sale Printed and published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer for the State of Victoria, [Melbourne], Victoria viewed 12 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2772887985
{{Citation
| author1=Australia. Parliament House of Representatives, issuing body.
| title=Papua (British New Guinea) : Spirituous liquors : correspondence respecting the suggested prohibition against their introduction, manufacture and sale.
| year=1904
| section=26 pages : 33 cm
| series=Parliamentary paper (Australia. Parliament) ;
| issue=PP no. 47 of 1904
| location=[Melbourne], Victoria
| publisher=Printed and published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer for the State of Victoria
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2772887985
| id=nla.obj-2772887985
| access-date=12 May 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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