THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1881. OUR SOCIAL PLAGUE SPOTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2147, 12 January 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1881. OUR SOCIAL PLAGUE SPOTS.

It has long been the subject of comment, alike in the columns of the local press as by strangers visiting us, that the authorities in Christcburch are perhaps the most apathetic in New Zealand as to the existence in our most frequented thoroughfares of what we may call social plague spots. It is, and has been for years past, a crying disgrace to this city—which is held up as a pattern of piety and virtue to the rest of the colony—that in the very heart of it exists places not equalled by the worst found in crowded cities. For some time past, and under the very eyes of the authorities, it has been, and still is, quite impossible for any respectable lady to walk down Gloucester street to our only place of amusement without having their eyes and ears shocked by such sights and sounds as never ought to be allowed to exist in such a place. Night after night so soon as evening sets in there gather together in a well known establishment all the vice and rascaldom of the city. Oaths and filthy language of all kinds fall upon the ear of the passer by, and not only so, but the tide overflows from the shop on to the pavement, and there obstructs the thoroughfare, less with the actual presence of individuals on the footway, than the moral contamination. If the lady passer by, wishing to escape this, crosses the street, it is but avoiding Scylla to fall into Charybdis. On the northern side of the street such nameless acts of indecency are nightly carried on, as to render this side also quite impassible for any decent female. Now, we ask any one whether such a state of things should be permitted to exist in any part of the colony. We feel sure of this, that if such a plague spot were known to be either in Auckland, Wellington, or Dunedin, no time would be lost in cutting it away. But in Ohristchurch it is not only allowed to remain under the very eyes of the police authorities, but, as it were with their concurrence, because they, in common with other portions of the public, have to suffer from it. There

is, wo believe, full scope, under the j Police Act, for dealing with such a place ' as harbouring vagrants and persons of J improper character, and so notorious a ° t nuisance has the place referred to become, c that no time should be lost in administer- ' ing such a reproof as will cause either a ' complete revolution in the conduct of it, or remove it entirely. In the interests of ' the public, we should say the sooner such t a plague spot as the one we have referred ' to is extirpated entirely, the better. But ' this does not stand alone; almost under j the very shadow of the walls of the ( temple being erected for the wc«hip of < God, stands another of these social ' plague spots, which, equally with the one ' spoken of, we commend to the notice of the police. It is to our mind monstrous, i that in the very heart of the City such places as these should be allowed to ' flourish, where improper characters are suffered, not only to congregate, but to ply their infamous trade. The police authorities cannot be ignorant of the existence of such establishments. It is as well known as that the Cathedral stands close by, and if there is no legislation, whereby, as in other cities, this detestable traffic is driven forth from the centre of population, and not allowed to flaunt in tho faces of our wives and daughters, it is time the City Council make some municipal provision. But we believe tho police have power where there is any offence against the morals of tho community to interfere, and we call upon them to do so, and to put an end to what is now not alone a crying disgrace and a shame to the city, but also an insult to our wives, sisters, mothers, daughters, and those dear to us. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. We congratulate the electors of the North-West Ward upon having allotted to our friend Mr. J. P. Oliver his proper position on the poll. The result of yesterday's election proves incontestably that there is in the minds of the burgesses a determination to elect only those who possess the requisite qualifications as representatives, and that the mere power of language does cot constitute a claim to their suffrages. Mr. Treleaven will, we believe, do honour to the choice of the electors, as he brings to tho work a determination to do his duty by the ward and city to the utmost of his ability. This, coupled with the experience in municipal matters which he will soon gain, must render him a very good member. As regards the second candidate on the poll, it is to be regretted, we think, that his injudicious friends brought him forward, as it might have resulted in a splitting of votes, and the return of a very undesirable man by a fluke. Fortunately it did not turn out so, but it was on the cards, and when so good a man as Mr. Treleaven had been selected, there surely was no reason to run the risk of having an Oliver foisted upon us.