THE SUNDAY LIQUOR TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7005, 30 April 1884, Page 3

THE SUNDAY LIQUOR TRADE.

TO THE KDITOK. Sib,— Aβ a rule the police have the credit of conducting their case*, before the Court, very fairly ; but I think the ease ot the Alexandra Hotel, as reported in your issue of te-day, is an exception. I re*pect the man who seeks to obey the law, whatever his calling may be ; but I have no sympathy for the man who wilfully breaks the law, and I cannot see why the proprietor of the Alexandra Hotel, ParnelL should be freed from further punishment because he pleaded guilty in oue case - after he had been charged with three distinct and separate charges for Sunday trading—because, repeating the words of Sergeant White, " They were committed on the saone Hay." Twenty shillings and costs U ?io punishment to a person for Sunday trading when he can take tive or ten pounds during the day, and increase his trade thereby on the week days. It is on the following ground that I justify these «evere strictures. Going round City East to visit the hotels in that diitrict with the Licensing Committee-men during last week, the necessity of strict Sunday closing was strongly urged upon the proprietors, and generally we were met with the reply, " Well, if all are made to observe the law, we have no objection ; but if eoaie are allowed to break the law by selling to our customers on Sunday, we give offence by refusing and lose their custom ou the Monday." Everyone must (eel che force of this reply, and admit that it is positively unjust to those who are obeying the law to allow others to break it with impunity. I think th* Bench deserve a share of the censure for allowing the second and third charges to be withdrawn, for by an exercise of their authority they could have refused their sanction to the withdrawal, and imposed increased penalties for each offence. Nominal penalties of 20s only prompt to further violation and do not check the evil, or do justice to those hotelkeepers who wish to observe the law if its conditions are imposed upon all alike.—l am. 4c, J. Nkwmajt.