Judge Bichmond on Licensing Laws.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 126, 30 May 1893, Page 2

Judge Bichmond on Licensing Laws.

WellinuTON, This Day, In his oharga to the Grand Jury yesterday morning Mc Justioe Riohmond made soma severe rem irks on the administration of the Licensing Act in Wellington. He said that the mauneis and customs in this oity in the Bmall hours of the moruing oould not be called satisfactory. He did not blame a lyiiody, but he mast say that there was laxity iv the administration of the existing lioensing law which was vary much to be deplored. If the cvidonce iv many depositions whioh came before him was to be believed, it appeared thao liquor could be obtained from liceaaed houses between 12 and 1 o'olock in the moruing. A judge, however, oould siy nothing iv these cases reflecting ou persona i.05 concerned iv the oharges before *him. However, when Ciroumstanoeß Buch as ha mentioned were proved io court, as they frequently were, it was the duty of tha polica ti take cognizance of the fact, and lay the i.a ticulars before tha Lbeusiog Comm'ttee. To wilfully allow drunkenness on the premises iv lioensed houses after closing hours was a sufficient cause of los 3 of lioense, aad yet over nnd over again it was proved in court that nun were allowed to soak in certain hotels at all houra, and if ho had auythiug to do with the matter, the licensa of a man who allowed suoh a thing would be gone for ever. The present, however, was njt the proper occasion for mentioning names. As the abolitiou of tbe functions of grand juries was impending, this might be the last opnortuuity he would bave of addressing them, and, as representing the magistracy of the city, ho wished to call attention to the ciroum-stances which he had recounted.