WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

MAN MADE LAWS

HOW THEY OPERATE

(Our Special Corresj/ondent)

WELLINGTON, .Tune sth. Yesterday the Stipendiary 'Magistrate delivered his long-deferred decision m the extremely unpleasant “Ivelbum Raid” ease ancl this morning the “Dominion.” with more courage than its local contemporaries offers some more or less obvious comments upon his Worship’s conclusions. In the course of its remarks it emphasises the point that the War Regulations, under which the proceedings were taken, while providing severe penalties lor the women involved in such cases, make no mention at all of the responsibility of the men who frequent their establishments. “Justice demands,” it says, “that in so far as it discriminates between men and women the War Regulations under which proceedings were taken should be amended.” This Is a pretty long stride from the conventional view of a * e _ ,v vearsago which allowed the man practically all the license he eared to take in such matters and ridiculed the idea ol equality between the sexes in this resI>Ut TRlv WOMEN’S PROTEST. > The first outcome of the Magistrate s decision is the announcement of a “Women’s Protest Meeting” to he held in the Town Hall on Saturday afterneon lo which “all Women Societies, Church Organisations, Mothers and Young \Yotnon JJ arc invited, to considei ‘■proposals for more effective legislation to safeguard women.” Whether or not this movement has been initiated by ladies of quite the right temperament to lead a public agitation of the kind may be doubted. The subject is an extremely delicate and difficult one, to be handled frankly and courageously, but not with the hysteria which has wrecked the good intentions of so many women social workers. That there is need for some public action in the matter, however, no one seriously concerned for the welfare of the community can doubt for a moment. The War Regulations were not framed by Parliament, but by Cabinet, in haste and at a time when Ministers, perhaps, were less concerned for the general tone of public morality than for the safety of the soldiers. LICENSING.

Though tlu* official Prohibitionists strongly dissent from the opinion expressed by the Chairman of the Wellington Licensing Committee yesterday tu the effect that the conduct of the hotels in the city hnd been very satisfactory during the last quarter of 1917-18, many temperance people are disposed to endorse Mr. Waddell’s commendation of the licensed houses. . 'lhc

statistics, at any rate, show there has heeii an appreciable decrease in tlie amount of drunkenness since the institution of six o’clock closing. In some quarters this is attributed to tho fact that the advance in tho price of spirits has led many thirsty souls to substitute beer for the more ardent beverages, and as one authority has put / it, “get more fun for their money with a good deal less peril to their wits.” Ah a majority of tho hotels are control, led by brewers, the licensees offer no objection to the change in the habits of their customers and even hope, with lessened drunkenness, it- may weaken the forces of No-License. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Tho case of a Reservist with a wife and one child was put forward by the Second Division League the other day as ono of undoubted hardship and the Minister was challenged to show the

man and his dependents were receiving fair play. The soldier’s pre-enlis meat income was £169 a year and he had applied to the Financial Assistance Board for grants to cover his house rent, £52 a year, and life insuranco, £5 4s a year. The Board had granted the amount for life insurance, but refused to pay the house rent. This left the wife and child with, including an allotment of 3s 6d a day from the husband and father, with £94 a year for their maintenance,, after paying the rent. The Board, though it has not fully identified the 'case, now submits that the wife and child with £94 a year arc better off than the husband, wife and child were, as the figures work, out, with £lll 16s a year, and pauses for a reply.