THE SPY SYSTEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1008, 9 July 1862, Page 5

THE SPY SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOB OP THE IYTTEITOIT TIMES. Sib,—l will feel oblige,to you as a guardian of public morals, to publish in your next issue the following synopsis of a case recently' heard in- our Besident Magistrate's court. A secret emissary of >the police arrived, and lodged on Saturday last at the Commercial Hotel, kept by John Anderson. In the evening it was proposed in the public room, by one in the policeman's company, to play cards; to this he assented,.arranging them jand taking a hand in the game. Before the hour of closing (11 o'clock), the landlord refused to play longer, but, as others wished to continue, he suggested that, as the stranger (the policeman) was a lodger, they might adjourn to his private room and play there. This was accordingly done, and more playing took place for : only a, short tune after the closing hour, for the trifling stake of four glasses. The landlord then refused to play any longer, and, notwithstanding the stranger's invitation to play ftirther, no more playingwas allowed. On the Monday, informations were laid by the stranger for serving liquor and gambling unlawfully. He deposedon the trial that he considered he was only discharging his duty in inducing irregularities in the publican and participating ln them, to ensure a conviction. Sir, as the spread orvice needs no stimulant, and as the police exist to cheek and suppress it, the system is not justified in doingevil for the sake of undoing .it, and to me nothing appears more: base and treacherous than the conduct of a spy, who begins -by deceiving and. ends by betraying his companions. 1 have heard that a tricky information of this class, laid ? against one Lumley, was dismissed by the Christchurch Bench, and that the infamous conduct. The police system should not requirO men to prostitute themselves to lure and d«wy their fellows into impropriety; and I protest against such a social degradation. I underst&|#that the police regulations prohibit gambling in any of their forced but I suppose to secure a victim the regulation is suspended. Surely the police can fill up their vacant time with bond \flde cosbb for the magistracy, without resorting to miserableexpedients and flimsy charges like the above. Prinking is the bane of the colony, yet how few are charged with it in the police reports. The informations cited were lenientlv dealt with by the Court, and the informer admonished for his misdirected zeal. Those who played at the Commercial hotel are the steadiest and most industrious men, and the landlord is generally liked for his correct, obliging, and, civil behaviour, I am, sir, yours most obediently, . JOHN BULL. Akaroa, July 3,1862. - O