LIQUOR MATTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7201, 12 September 1901, Page 2

LIQUOR MATTERS.

Before the date at present fixed for the next licensing poll, December, 1902, there may or may not be changes in the liquor laws. Apart, however, from any such possibilities, there are one or two facts In connection with the trade calling for. comment. There has been of late throughout the colony an unusually large crop of convictions for breaches of the Licensing Act. In the last annual Police Report we were told of a considerable increase in drunkenness. Judicial utterances have pointed in the same direction. Looked at from the point of view, not of extremists of either party, but of the moderate and fair-mkjded men and women who form thegT-atibutk of public opinion, these facte contain a very decided warning. Ifc is a favourite taunt of the Pfohibitlonista that ptrblican- only attempt to keep the law from fear •of the results of these polla, and that thi* as shown by the paucity of convictions in the periods immediately preceding them.^ Be this as it may, publicans would be wise to remember at all timea that the present/ system is merely on its trial, and that every deliberate breach of law means the alienation of a certain- number of voter, willing as yet to afford that trial. Men who are nob prepared to hand the colony over to Prchibition can yet be alarmed lnto ««fctag to. take the trade from private control. Every careless and lawless dealer in liquor plays into the hands of the extremist of the opposite side, and is the enemy of moderation, for. the reason that late repentance and good behaviour on ihe approach of danger do not hoodwink careful observers. In conclusion, it should be remembered thafc the foregoing considerations apply to legislative action as well as to licenaing polls.