DRINK AND CRIME.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12442, 3 March 1906, Page 9

DRINK AND CRIME.

(fuss Asaocurtoit mwnut)'' WANGANUI, March 2. In passing a sentenoe at.the Supreme Court this morning the Chief Justice •remarked on the fact that drink ,was the cause of some of the prisoner* coming before him. In the case ;of assaults on boys, whioh occurred on a ship in port, his Honour said that the law should provide for a. heavy penalty for allowing liquor 'to bo brought on board, as it often caused drunken squabbles, and led to such cases' as that before him. Boys engaged ships should be protected", and captains should not allow them to be made slaves of or knocked about by drunken sailors. Referring to the liquor habit among Maoris, 'he eaid Europeans were responsible . for drink being eerved to natives, and if this ~*ere allowed ,to go on there would soon be no native race at all. Drink was too often the inoentiyq to Maoris to get moneyydishonesriy, and "too often when they beoame possessed of,money tbqy straightway spent it in debauchery, perpetuating improvident habits, and getting themselves into trouble.