YOUNG MEN AND DRINK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 576, 3 August 1909, Page 6

YOUNG MEN AND DRINK.

f 'A LETTER TO THE 'LICENSING BENCH. Consequent upon a resolution passed, at the last meeting of the Wellington District ' Lodge, I 0 G T., the following lotter was for- v £ warded to the chairman and members of the-' Wellington City Licensing Committee-— "Gentlemen,—On behalf of tho Wel- » < lington District Lodgo of (-Joed Tempj larsr, wo beg' to respectfully protest , , .agams't the amount of/ drunkenness which is occasioned and permitted in Wellington, especially amongst f young ' men. This excess is apparent 'to the most casual observer, and while recognising that drunkenness will take place ' during the existence of the present system, there would, in our opinion, be considerably less in our city if the licensinalaTts were mdro stringently enforced. We' therefore pray tliat you will give this matter your serious attention with a view to minimising as far as possib'e the evil < effects of the existing unsatisfactory state of affairs " , In reply/the lodge officials have now icceived the following communication (which it was agreed should bo handed to tho press for publication):— "I am directed by tho Wellington LicensN ing Committee to acknowledge tho receipt of your lotter, and'to inform you that tho subject referred to therein was considered by tho committee at tho annual licensing meeting, and they requested mo to say that whilst they wore in sjmpathy with your Order, they Could not mako any pronouncement from tho Bench as tho matter was beyond their jurisdiction."