The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 998, 6 September 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1877.

Tile Licensing Court for the city of Christchurch has just completed its sitting, and we had hoped that some steps would have been taken on a matter of vital importance to the public. We allude to the adulteration of liquor which is known to exist here. As we have pointed out time after time, the public health is being impaired, and our goals and lunatic asylums filled, and yet no steps are taken to avert the evil. The Licensing Bench at Ashburton have, we are glad to see, taken the matter up. The Chairman has been requested to communicate with the G-overnment, recommending that the public analysts of the various districts he requested periodically to analyse all alcoholic drink, first by testing whatever is in the bonded warehouses, and secondly by testing what is in the hands of vendors. The Bench also thought it would be a great public boon if the Government could institute any kind of supervision which would, by heavy penalty, otherwise restrain the destructive adulteration which now takes place in alcoholic beverages. This is the course we have advocated to be adopted for Christchurch, and which, if done, would be productive of much good. By a periodical analysis, not alone of the stock in the hands of the retail vendors, hut also of the merchants and importers, we should secure the purity of the liquor sold. At present there is no such check, and it is a well known fact that adulteration does exist here. With the knowledge of this before us it does seem strange that the Licensing Bench should not bring the matter before the Government. The Ashburton Bench has set an example which we hope will be followed by that of Christchurch and other parts of the district. The Government cannot then disregard the united voice of those to whom the supervision of licensed houses is committed, and the evil which is growing in our midst will be removed.