LICENSING MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 1 June 1900, Page 2

LICENSING MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —After earful perusal of the reported pronouncements of the S..VI. to the deputation of Monday morning, one is only the more perplexed at the reasons giv n, and still more surprised it the lack of any good reasons, for not immediately enforcing the provisions of the Licensing Act, which lays down 10 o'clock as the closi g time for drinking bars. At AuckLnd an imnediit& change from 11 to 10 o'clock clos ng was conceded as for the best interest.--if the community. It is niysteriouitJiat " The Trade *' in the less import- 1 mt town of New Plymouth should -•equire to bo dealt with so tenderly -hat thoy must bp favored with .. yearV aotice of the change, unless misbehaviour sooner compeis it; or can there ■:.e anything in the sugg, stion that public opinion dots not favour |U oV-OSte closing Surely not, if

opportunity had been given for ex(n br-oi u of opinion there would have <k:en mubix'.ible evidence of approval of the earlier closing, according to the Act, and that at once. Is it considered that permission to keep open the bar till 11 o'clock effectually prevents a breach of the law ? If so, how will 10 oclock closing work a year hence? Why even if 12 o'clock were the closing h°ur,_ would not loiterer often be permitted to remain after that time, — perhaps with closed doors? "I have seen young fellows going home drunk at 3 o clock in the morning," was a remark heard outside the Courthouse on Monday. Where had drink and shelter been supplied after eleven ? And is it nothing that the working man should be permitted by the law (that is the S.M.)-to sit an extra hour drinking away his money and his health, and impoverishing his family ? The unfortunate citizen who happens to be next door neighbour to such a tippler and is roused from slumber at nearly _ midnight by unearthly and disgusting sounds,—suggesting a very sick dog,—wishes that man had been sent home an hour or so earlier. (This is no imaginary, but an actual case.) And what about the poor wife waiting up for her husband? The possibility of such things happening would, of course, never occur to gentlemen residing snugly away in the suburbs. What chance have they of hearing such unpleasant doings ? Though aware of the presence of an enemy, even within the camp, they have not, like Baden-Powell, the pluck to do their own reconnoitering, The question "am I my brother's keeper," troubles our authorities all too little." But sooner or later a good many more will be "horrified" at the future results of what is now going on in New Plymouth. Why, for instance, is there no authorised inspection of various billard rooms frequented by the youth of the town. And the parents!—who allow their young sons so long out of sight at night, they should bestir themselves before it is too late, before the fiend of gambling, as well as of drink, has secured the victims past recovery, Would that some power would open people's eyes and find a remedy I War claims its thousands, while drink and gambling claim their tens of thousands. Yet war has greater horrors for us than these more insidious foes.—l am, etc., 1 "An Old Good Templak."