No More Legislation Needed. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 22

No More Legislation Needed. TO THE EDITOR.

Rm, — I was much struck with the truth of a remark made by *' Pater" recently to the effect that "we have enough laws made." This I say is tuie of licensing laws. Prohibitionists and some temperance advocates clamour for a change. I am heartily in sympathy with the temperauce cause, and maintain that the law is entirely in favour of the temperance cause, if properly carried out. If a man is wastiiig his means and health, an order can be got against him, and the publicans are not supposed to supply drink to a drunken man, under a penalty of a fine and an endorsement on the license. And here is where the laxity of the law comes in. Cases in point : A district not 100 miles from Duuedin ; two men arrested for drunkenness. They were so bad that on the constable's own statement he had to call on the assistance of two residents to assist. The The hour was about 12 p.m. (though 10 o'clock licenses prevail in this, district). The other case was one of robbery from a drunken man—who if sober would not have bocn robbed, hence there would be no robbery- Now I say that some hotelkeepers broke the law, and I would ask, have the police done anything to bring them to uistice ? or do they make friends with them and say nothing about it, and consider they have done their duty by having the poor man who drinks iined, when lie is really not supposed to be supplied with liquor. We want le&s change of laws and more observance of the law. — I am, &.c, December 11, 1893. S. T .U.

— Starfish have the power to change fckeir colour to that of surroundiDg objects.