Anti-Shouting.

NZ Truth, Issue 749, 25 October 1919, Page 5

Anti-Shouting.

Will It Be Regulated Out of Existence?

Generally some sort of show of justification can be given for legislation, but only a fanatic of a Prohibitionist, or that species of wowser who derive:"} pleasure at the discomfiture of his fellows, can specify any reason why on earth. the Parliament of New Zealancl to become law the regula- " tion, a War Regulation, something calculated to win the war, which mado it a- crime for any person to ask another to join him m a drink, m other words, to shout for him. That tba position created rendered New Zealand ridiculous in -the eyes of all the world cannot be denied, and It is unlikely that even the freak State Legislatures of America ever gave birth td anything more absolutely nonsensical. That the task of carrying- out the law necessitated an army of policemen was made clear, and some idea was given of what New Zealand would bo like .under "Dry" laws, was borne out by the fact that the administration of the law waa rendered a dead letter, though occasionally there were prosecutions, and magistrates gave reminders that there was such a law m existence. However, none disguised thq fact that everywhere m this country the law was broken with contemptuous impunits', and Mr. Witty, M.P., served a very useful purpose the other night In Parliament when he asked the Prime Minister if- he intended to havo the anti-shouting regulation repealed. The Prime Minister iloundered a bit at ■ the beginning, and did not exactly know where he stood, m other words, •'..-. was at a loss for a reply, but on receiving'"a tip from a pal," that thrj thing could be abolished by regulation, he promised to have the matter looked into by the Crown Law authorities, li .-.; is to b.e hoped that the Prime Ministewill find time before the session closes . ; to have this bit of laugh-raising leg'.s* ,i lation abolished. '■■■v-3