OVERSTRAINING THE LAW.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 872, 22 November 1906, Page 21

OVERSTRAINING THE LAW.

Under the above heading, in commenting on some recent Southern convic.ions for sly grog selling, the “Australian Brewers’ Journal’’ remarks that New Zealand is getting, as the children say, “full up’’ with its prohibition business. Mr Seddon expressly stated that if he had known what the results would be he would never have touched the unholy thing, but if Mr Seddon had been a closer student of human nature he would easily have foreseen what has actually :aken place. Legislation such as our teetotallers would have is legally demoralising. It might be easily anticipated that the law would be broken, and he more severe the repressive enactments the greater contempt and hatred for the law itself. St. James says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.” That expresses our opinion exactly. If a statute is such that it, will and must be broken, it leads to con empt for all law, and is, therefore, a threat to society. We read cf a man being fined and costs, for selling a nobbier of whisky to a thirsty soul in Invercargill. Another and costs had to be paid at Oamaru, and all the Clutha houses were raided, after the manner of the old smuggling days in England. The whole affair, in its first aspect, appears to be a decided step to the rear, and i remains to be seen what will be the secondary effects on the character of the people.