The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1917. THE LAW OF JUSTICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9720, 24 July 1917, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1917. THE LAW OF JUSTICE

Parliament has now before it both sides of the question of reducing the hours of the licensed liquor trade, it can see for itself that the whole matter, so large in discussion, not unclamorous, lies in a nutshell which needs hut little thought. There is a compact as sacred as any compact can be; the only excuse that can be honestly urged by one side for breaking that compact is that the other side has, by the use of its liberty under the compact, done general harm; the whole evidence—not the balance of evidence, but. the whole —i$ that, there is no general harm, hut that the general efficiency has been during the currency of the compact considerably improved; nevertheless, the trade offers a compromise by which it is prepared to suffer something more than its share for the oommen good on account of the war, but, at the same time, less than it is called upon to suffer by the claim made for arbitrary variation of the compact. Thus is the matter reduced to a simple proposition, not of justice, but of expediency, and that as against one- of the two parties to the compact. Here the main point is that there is a compact, Xt is a compact subject to g'ood behaviour on the side enjoying privilege, the regular tribunals of justice being the recognised authorities to pronounce upon the question of behaviour. Under this compact very considerable responsibilities have been undertaken, many of them at the order of the legal tribunals enforcing the compact conditions. "Wherever tho conditions have not been observed, tho tribunals have enforced penalties. In the vast majority of cases the conditions have been observed. There should not be any penalty. Any penalty would bo contrary to justice. 11

But the penalty demanded is substantdal enough- to bring ruin on many individuals and’ serious loss on all concerned. In face of such consequences there must be good and sufficient reason advanced. The reason advanced is a general statement that tho national efficiency which for tho sake of winning the war must be at tho highest, has been deteriorated through tho facilities given by tho trade for the ,consumption of alcohol. The supporters of this claim have, so far as wo have been able to glean from their published 1 statements, advanced no proof. On the ’• other side many facts have been adduced, proving that there is no deterioration in, but a considerable increase of, the national efficiency. They have quoted tho very largo increase in tho Savings Banks deposits (the aggregate now reaching ton millions), they have reviewed the bank returns with their credit of thirty-four millions.' They have shown that there are 4000 fewer convictions for\ drunkenness, and they have quoted judicial statements of the decrease of serious crime in the Dominion. They have in their favour the splendid efficiency of the army of the Dominion, of which between 80,000 and 90,000 men have passed through tho camps, while the magnificent efficiency of the regiments that are in the field is the theme of general admiration. In addition there is the regular payment of all taxes, and the tremendous volume of voluntary subscription for the side purposes of the war, which never seems to diminish. These are all signs of a liigh state of national efficiency. As collateral evidence tho fact is brought forward that the average consumption of liquor is less in tho Dominion than in the United Kingdom. Of itself this fact may not count for much in the consideration of the compact, but it does count for a good deal When supported by the fact that last year the revenue from Customs and Excise fell £300,000. Whether this reduction was or was not due to tho variation of the compact in the shape of the anti-shouting” regulations imposed on the trade, it certainly shows

that like other people in tho community the trade has lost some profit by tho war. By itself the fact does not impress very much, but in connection, with tho many proofs adduced of tho all-round efficiency of army and people tho fact becomes emphatic. The plea of national efficiency for varying the compact lias certainly no force, because the facts prove that the national efficiency has increased. Tho liquor trade may be good l or bad. according to views that vary. But no one can deny the patent fact that during the currency of the trade, in the crisis of a groat war, the national efficiency has improved according to all the recognised tests.

The trade, however, has offered, nevertheless, to g:va up part of tho privi.oge guaranteed by compact. There is, on the facts, no reason for any concession. For that the mere recital of the facts is sufficient. Therefore acceptance of the offer by Pailiament can hardly be an act of justice. As a matter of expediency-, a settlement without waste of time and effort, there is something to be said for it. It is not a thing that could be enforced, but being a voluntary proposal, there can be no difficulty on that score. Further waste of the" time ■andl effort of the Legislature is a serious 'tiling, and its avoidance would bo profitable. .The acceptance of the proposal by the Legislature would be easy, very much more easy than the acceptance of a proposal to largely increase the commandeering direct of war profits. But tho trade is making no war profits, for it has paid during the last year £300.000 less to the State by way of Customs and Excise. Tho acceptance of its offer of a further diminution of profit would facilitate the imposition of war taxation on war profiteers who make very large profits and do not offer to submit to any more sacrifice than they can help. This, after all, belongs to the real business of the country. Let us get away from fads and the unsupported testimonies of faddists offering no public benefit, nothing but harassment of individuals, and let us get on with the business of' tho country. This is not the time to talk of the faults of o'Ur neighbours or of their occupation. Nor is it the time for trying to Compel tho adoption of now habits of food or drink. , Nor is it a time for the Legislature to submit to the insistence of unsupported clamour. It is the time of, all others for sound finance, for equal justice, and for honest independence of mind, under the guidance of reason in the light of proved fact.