SLY CROC SELLING, ETC.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 14 April 1910, Page 4

SLY CROC SELLING, ETC.

[United Phess Association.]

Wellington, April 13. A deputation from the New Zeaknd Alliance waited on the Hou Dr Findlay, the Minister of Justice, this afternoon. .■'•■■ ' The Rev Dawson, the secretary or the Alliance, said the deputation wish-ed-to see a magistrate have no option but to send a sly grog seller to gaol for a second offence. The deputation thought there had been 100 much leniency shown by the magistrates. If the law could be made so that it would be illegal for a man to store liquor, or procure it for another, the sly grog evil would be effectually dealt with. They also thought no conditional licenses should be granted for cattle sales, race meetings, etc. The deputation would also like to see the laws made plain in regard to the .undoubted illegality of serving Maori women with liquor. Dr Findlay said this difficulty was due probably, to some consolidating oversight and ought to be put right. Other members of the deputation having spoken in support of the Rev Mr Dewdney, .. Dr Findlay said he was ra entire sympathy with any attempt to pre? serve the Jaw: It was a serious thing to make statements reflecting on the magistracy. If he were satisfied any magistrate favoured any particular person he would be put off the Bench at once. Persona'Uy he knew of no case amounting to dishonest tendency on the part of the magistracy. If the penalties imposed by law were not sufficient to check offences they must be increased, and he admitted that where offences were repeated as often as sly grog selling was repeated, there was reasonable ground for asking that the penalties should be reconsidered with the intention of making them a deterrent. After quoting instance^ to show the fines which had been imposed in different centres Dr Findlay said it was clear there was amazing diversity in the amounts of the fines. Dealing with the proposed imprisonment for a second offence, he pointed but that a second offence in a no license area was punishable not by a fine but by imprisonment. In a licensed district however, there was option all through. The rule giving, a magistrate no discretion ; might lead _ to putting a magistrate -in an awkward position in the case of an offence due perhaps to thoughtlessness. He would invite the Cabinet to consider, the deputation's request to abolish conditional licenses.' He agreed with,. the deputation, that lany liquor confiscated ought to be destroyed,, and thought that .an; alteration would be madV to meet this difficulty.