The Rambler.

Thames Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 8055, 29 May 1895, Page 2

The Rambler.

[By " Fj^ee Lance."]

The twovto-rone victory of the Government in the recent censure debate is a matter of great importance to New South Wales. The decisive defeat of Parkes, T3it»bs,. and the Protection crewhas greatly strengthened the position of tne Reid administration, and we may how expect to see: the Free Trade programme thoroughly carried out. New South Wales is to be congratulated, '..'•. * ■;. *. : .x-. ' '■ :.'■ Perhaps tl>e. most gatisfHctory !•»

suit of the debate is the downfall of the "unholy" coalition between Sir Henry Parkes and the Protectionists. Sir Henry's position is rather pathetic. He has been hopelessly left—" yoked to the bogged car of provincial tariff-' ism." And why ? Simply because he preferred to betray his principles rather than stand true to them while his old political enemy was at the helm. In , order to work the defeat of Reid and party this ardent old Freetrader actually hob-nobbed with another political enemy, Sir George Dibbs leader of the Protectionists. But he could not strain a point and bury the hatchet with his successor, the new champion of Free Trade. What pity is there for a politician who turns traitor m this way? The wages of political sin is political oblivion, and this is sin indeed !

* * x The hysterically indignant spirit prevailing at the Temperance Convention winch commenced at Palmerston North last Friday, is very amusing. The Convention opened fire by calling the attention. of the Government to the disgraceful laxity in the administration of the liquor laws throughout the colony, demanding the immediate removal of the Justices of. the Peace who instigated their violation .in the Clutha district, and urging that the necessary administrative and legislative steps be taken to compel Magistrates aiid the police ;.to make the enforcement ■of such laws something better than a farce. . The action •? the Convention in demanding the removal of the Justices will, I feel sure. be universally supported, but the advice which it tenders re Magistrates and the police is most ill-timed. While requesting that the administration of the liquor laws should be made something better than a farce, the Convention quietly ignores the fact that' the laws themselves are.only a farce.. As these laws at present stand it is per. fectly impossible for the police to administer them, and in nine, cases out of ten it is impossible for a Magistrate to convict. Why, therefore, should the Magistrates and police be made the scapegoats; aad denounced as responsible for a state of affairs Which they are unable to remedy?^ And further: What sense of fair play can these Temperance people have when they, attack men who, owing to their positions, are unable to reply or utter a word in their own defence ? Tht action of the Convention is cowardly! X X X Temperanca men may argue that they are not themselves to blame for the present impracticable state of the liquor laws, and that the fault lies with the Government. I have even heaii it stated that the Seddon, administration, at the instance of the brewers, introduced the existing legislation for the purpose of deliberately deceiving its advocates. If so, why not abuse the Government ? Why not abusethe Parliament which passed such manifestly impossible measures? That would have been the only right and straightforward course to follow. But what has this Convention done? It calls the attention of the Government to the.disgraceful administration, and* then; instead of asking for proper legislation,, goes on to abuse the officers of the law—the men who are given the task of enforcing an unworkable Act. The much-injured Auckland shopkeepers might as we 1! heap contumely on the head of Inspector Ferguson. * * X After shootm?.fa dart at the Magistrates and police, the Convention, evidently feeling easier, proceeded to do some really useful work. Its recommendation that drinking clubs should be placed on the same footing with regard to Sunday.observance, limitation of hours, police supervision, and popular control as public houses, is a step in the right direction,and will be vnivsally recognised as such. So long as the Convention confines itself to amending the present liquor laws its efforts will be valuable, but our if Temperance devotees wish to condemn those who are to blap for past blunders, they should address themselves to the really responsible parties.