The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1883. “Lambing Down.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 848, 22 January 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1883. “Lambing Down.”

An evil that is more widespread than most people imagine has been brought before the public during the past few days. We refer to the charge of “ lambing down ” in Wellington, which has resulted in judgment being given for the plaintiff, the Resident Magistrate adding that, in his opinion, the Licensing Bench should take some notice of the conduct of the hotel-keeper at their next meeting. It appears from the evidence that a station laborer, one Patrick Moynahan, came into town from up country on the 20th Decern ber, having in his possession some The greater part of this money, which consisted of an order on a mercantile firm and some loose cash, he placed for safety in the hands of Mrs Harding, the landlady of the hotel where he was staying. Then ensued the usual drinking bout, lasting for several days, and when Moynahan came tohis senses and wished to settle his hotel bill, he was informed that the balance was on the wrong side. Instead of following the usual course under such circumstances, the victim in this instance consulted a lawyer, with the result that Mrs Harding received notice that proceedings would be forthwith taken against her. In answer to this threat the hotel-keeper sent in her account, amounting to the sum of x6s 6d. According to this document “ Pat and mate ” had managed to run up a score for refreshments to the tune of L 27 7s 6d, while they had received as cash lentLiy 15s. We suppose that it would be possible for a man who chose to indulge in indiscriminate “ shouting ” to expend in the time specified even a larger sum than is here set down, but the Magistrate has by his decision shown that the keepers of hotels are not to be allowed to aid and abet such folly. A case similar to the one justl|decided in Wellington came before the Dunedin Court some months ago, but there can be no question that the practice of “ lambing down ” is only too common in the colony, and it is very seldom that the victim thinks it worth while to complain. It is not the proprietors of hostelries in the larger towns that take advantage of the ignorance and stupidity of these farm laborers, so much as the owners of the up-country publichouses. The process of “ fleecing ” is very simple. A man who has been engaged in shepherding for many months, scarcely seeing a human face during that time, and with no other companionship but his sheep and his dogs, receives what he calls a “ big cheque ” and a leave of absence. His only idea of enjoyment is to get as drunk as as he possibly can, and with this end in view he makes his way to the nearest public-house and gives his money into the hands of the landlord, with instructions that he is to be informed when it is all spent. The news of the arrival of the wretched creature soon spreads, the loafers of the district make their appearance, and for some days a drunken debauch is carried on. Very soon the landlord informs his victim that the end ,of his tether is reached, and the latter seemingly quite contented resumes his swag and goes back to his solitary life. 1 This is a drama that has been often enough acted in New Zealand, and many men have grown rich by immorally trading on the sottish folly ®f

these shepherds. Nor is it easy to suggest a remedy for this disgraceful state ot things. Experience is of no use to people of the sta,mp we have referred to, and even if they were able to realise the fact that they had been swindled out of their earnings, the chances are in favor of their acting in precisely the same way on future occasions. Now and’ then an exposure takes place when this “ lambing down ” is practised in large towns like Dunedin or Wellington, but the far more numerous instances in the up-country districts are never heard of by the general public. While there are men amongst us who are not ashamed to lower themselves to the level of the brutes, and others who are ready to take advantage of this, the police are powerlc-s to suppress the evil. Still, it is satisfactory to know that in one instance at least justice has been meted out, and it is to be hoped that the result of the Wellington case will have some effect both upon unscrupulous landlords and their victims.