TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 June 1911, Page 4

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

(This column is the property of the Waikato No-License League, and we are in no way responsible for the opinions expressed. — Ed. W. P.)

One of the Supreme Court Judges in West Australia recently adopted an unusual method of dealing with some five prisoners who had got into trouble through drink. He had them all brought into court at once, in order to give an object lesson to the people of the State. He said «he wished every man, woman, and child in the State could see those five men, all occupying different positions in life, but all brought into the court through drink. The learned judge said the Chief Justice of Australia had laid down the dictum that " drunkenness was never a defence unless it amounted to unsoundness of mind," and went on to quote the law laid down by Sir Edward Coke, ■' But whatsoever hurt or ill soever he doth, his drunkenness doth aggravate it." This is sound law, as well as good common sense,and it is time the notion was exploded that because a man if drunk therefore he is not responsible. Old Sir Edward Coke was right—the offence is aggravated by the fact of a person being in a position he has no right to be in. We could do with a little more plain talk from the bench on this question, as we are sure many people need enlightenment in this direction. Drunkenness is no excuse for crime, and only aggravates it.