THE BESOM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 118, 26 June 1880, Page 2

THE BESOM.

The police are to be commended for the raid they are now making on the bad houses that exist in the township. One keeper of a den of this description has already been sent to gaol, and yesterday a second blackguard, who has for some eighteen months lived, so to speak, on the moral offal of this community, has been committed to prison for three months. The decision is to be appealed against, however, and may result in the Court’s judgment being quashed. We hope* it won’t, for the removal of keepers of houses of bad fame is at all times desirable, and a man like Ryal is always in good and safe quarters in prison. We hope the police will not cease their efforts until they have scoured out. every don of iniquity of the “lean-to” class that exists in the township. We are given to understand that there are more houses of this description in the town than most people believe; but if they are as energetically attacked as those have been that the police have already succeeded in clearing out there is no reason to fear that their lease of life in Ashburton will be long. When the demand exists there will always be a supply, and it is to be regretted that those found frequenting and supporting hells of the lean-to description are not exposed. It would be found, wc ai’e sure, that these houses are supported by such scum as gravitate to the township from outside districts, and it is intolarable that a quiet town like Ashburton should bo credited with affording a living to such vermin as Ryal and Bariera, and others of their class. The police have the entire sympathy of the townspeople, and we hope they will not cease their efforts to scour out every don of filth- that they know of.