THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1878.

Inangahua Times, Volume V, Issue 33, 8 March 1878, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1878.

Thk determination of the Licensing Bench, as exprcoacdat the last sitting of tho Court, to- in- futuro rigorously onforco tho provisions of the law< relating to tho Halo of drink to intoxi* cated'perßonsj w ono-fco be very warmly applauded by every right thinking perHon, nnd, if it can only bo- carried, oat, thero can be no question that a great blessing will result to tbo community. It in not unlikely,, howover, that somo difllbulty will bo experienced by pub« licana in dotermining..when . or wliore the lino is to bo drawn jior^ in other words, when a man's grog is to be stopped.. The Act does not define the meaning of the word " intoxicated." So it is to bo presumed' that the prosecuting constable is to be mode tho judge. Tho Bench, however,. has in« terpretod the words " intoxicated por« eon "'to mean- nny perflon who may " exhibit signs of drink," and if this interpretation- ia to prevail publicans will do well to be oivtboir guard. The punishment' which awaito- tranflgrosflora of tho provision is a severe one, and it 'irtnll' tho more nocesßary therefore' that proper caution should bo oxorcised to avort it. There is no reason, we think, to apprehend that the provision, will bo made at all tyrannical in< its oporation* Anihotelkeeper is, or ought to be, a very good judge aa- to when a customer has imbibodsufllcient,and, of course,. if he wilfully goes boyond that limit he at once exposes himself tothe 1 penalty of rho law. By a wise exerciseof 1 the discretion thus left in tho hands of tho police wo may reasonably ox« pect to find a decrease in tho numbor of enscs of actual drunkennesa- initho community, and consequently a much better tore- in tho conduct of some of ,our hotclfl. It ia< a matter of surprise that such a salutary provision as this should havo bonn parmittod to rest in abeyance so long, and for reviving it rlio Licensing Commissioners are en*« titled to. tbo thanks .of', tho com>«