JUSTICES' JUSTICE.

Evening Star, Issue 7628, 2 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

JUSTICES' JUSTICE.

TO THK EDITOR. g lß) —With few exceptions, for some considerable time past breaches of the Licensing Act for adjudication have been brought before the Resident Magistrate, which it strikes me is a wise course of procedure. It is notorious that for a considerable time past, with scarcely an exception, each and every hotel has been conducted as if the Licensing Act was a dead letter. It only wants a few more judgments of Friday's and Saturday's stamp to make it so. None know this better than the Magistrates themselves. The Licensing Act provides for an inspector to see that the Act is enforced. The moderate drinkers, for whom the Act exists, and for which they are responsible, should see that the inspector is appointed. In Victoria they have special inspectors. There the Magistrates would have no power to fine Is or LI for sale at irregular hours ; L 5 there (see section 107 of the Act) is the minimum penalty. There, also, they have other regulations that we with advantage might copy—notably the bars having to be locked inside and out at unlicensed hours ; delivery of liquor by licensee or servant, or possession by a presumable purchaser, sufficient to be a sale under the Act; purchaser to be amenable to fine as well as licensee ; and last, but not least (we here have good cause to know), specially appointed Magistrates to adjudicate upon breaches of the Licensing Act.—l am, etc., M. Dunedin, May 31. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—On a former occasion, in reply to some temperance writer who had been addressing the public through your columns on the necessity of further legislation on the liquor traffic, I advised him and those with whom he acted that, instead of clamoring for futher legislation of a restrictive kind, to have enforced the Licensing Act we have. Friday and Saturday's exhibition of Justices' justice, by Messrs Jones, Rutherford, Sprent, and Brydone, make me think the advice I then gave your correspondent valueless. It has begun to dawn upon me that this liquor traffic will not be regulated; therefore it must be abolished. A few more decisions of the kind under notice will hasten the latter course. If these worthy Magistrates believe in an unrestricted liquor traffic, then they had no right to occupy the position they did, for they have sworn to administer the laws without fear or favor. That favor was shown, who will deny. And what is very evident is the police were enconraged to wink at Sunday sly grog-selling.—l am, etc , Citizen. Dunedin, May 30.