The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 821, 8 February 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1877.

The Sunday liquor question in Melbourne has recently assumed a strange and we believe altogether unprecedented position. Our readers are perhaps aware that there, as well as here, the Legislature has prohibited the opening of public houses on Sunday for the sale of liquor. The Act was passed notwithstanding the most strenuous opposition of the public house interest. The usual arguments on both sides of the question were of course largely made use of when the matter was under discussion, and every influence possible brought to bear to prevent the Bill becoming law, but all in vain. But the Bill having become law, a novel and we think quite original plan was adopted of securing its repeal. It was resolved by those directly interested, the publicans, not to resist its enforcement, not to continue further opposition to its operation, but to band together in carrying out the provisions of the Act. By this means it was thought, that when the poor man was deprived of his Sunday beer, public indignation would be so roused against the measure that it would have been allowed to remain a dead letter till such time as Parliament again repealed it. But for once it would appear that the publicans had misinterpreted the nature of public opinion on tne subject. No indignation meetings have been held, and to all appearance the public are quite content to rest satisfied notwithstanding the deprivation. All the efforts of a certain portion of the Melbourne press have been unavailing to rouse the people to a sense of their down-trodden and abject position. For submitting quietly to the will of the Legislature, one journal designates the Melbourne community as poor spiritless creatures, who like to be kicked and cuffed.

The totally unexpected result of this combined action on the part of the Melbourne publicans will, we hope, not be lost sight of when the question comes to be further discussed. They have given the advocates of Sunday closing an excellent argument, which they will not fail to make the most of. The “ blank drunkards’ list at the Police Court” every Monday morning is a telling argument in favour of those who oppose Sunday trading, and proves that the law can be strictly enforced, if those immediately interested are willing. But unfortunately such is not generally the case. It is rarely, even in a small community like this, that there is a “ blank drunkard’s list ” on Monday morning at the police court. It is well known that the law is being continuously and systematically broken by some traders, to the detriment of those who are law-abiding. We ask why is this ? Sunday trading has been prohibited for many years, and no outcry against the law is raised. We may, therefore, fairly conclude that by a large majority of the community no exception is taken to the restriction. Why, therefore, should this particular enactment of the Legislature be evaded with comparative impunity ? As long as it remains on the statute book it should be strictly enforced, and if the penalties at present imposed are not sufficient to secure this, they ought to be made far more severe.