WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

wllkrr; ark the police ? GRAVE ALLEGATIONS. (Special to “(juardjpji'’.) WELLINGTON, September E I i ij ;is been notorious lor sumo time past that the Wellington polin' have been “ going slow ” in their crusade against illicit gambling; They never were very assiduous in their setircli for offenders against the pro visions of to Gaming Act, anil it was only the small fry among the bookmakers that aiiilere(i the indignity of being baled beforeliar magistrates. It has been stated mi first hand authority that several resignations from the Police Eorre during the last fen years bate I, primarily tine to the retiring officers' disinclination to make a mere pretence ot administering the gaming lan s. Rot now a still graver scandal i■- afoot. It is being whispered about thy. n. many of the holiday resorts around Vtillingtun Harbour refreslimenls ol a nmrli more stimulating cliaraeter than tea, . nil'ce. ginger-]iot ami herbal beer can !jo obtained by any thirsty visitor Hint knows the run of tlie lop'-s. People who tested this disquieting story are not i,i rm ui minis in their ( om-hixioiis. some staling that liquor can be obtained onlv bv those ((intent to accept friendly hospitality, and others declaring that il, can he purchased by any holder of the necessary credentials.; but they agree that closer police surveillance should he exercised over all (lie resorts which easily might he turned to improper purposes. ELOETING THE LAW.

A 1.'.0 serious evil was brought tinder the notice of 11 so Minister of Labour yesterday when a deputation represeniitig the wholesale tiled retail tobacconists. supported by lilt* Wellington Gliumber of Commerce and the Employers' Eedoration waited upon that gentleman to protest against the illicit sale of tobacco and cigarettes which the spokesman of the deputation stated was going on within the city. It was stated that a raid made lately by two departmental officers had discovered sixteen offenders flagrantly flouting the law and that on asiotlier occasion thirty other offenders had been caught selling after hours. 1 1 was alleged that fifty charges had been preferred in these eases and that substantial penalties had been imposed, but that there was tut reason to suppose that illicit trading had been materially lessened. !t was estimated that Id per cent, of the total tobacco trade of the lity passed through illegal elmtluels alter hours. The deputation thought that

more lines were not going to suppress the evil and suggested that some more effective penalty should he imposed. The Minister, however, did not appear to lie entirely sympathetic with the representations of the deputation. He thought there already were too many restrictions in the country and would not undertake to legislate on the matter during the present session. The public would have tobacco and cigarettes, he said, and it- convenience had to he considered. THE GENERAL ELECTION. Speaking at a meeting at Island Ray last night, for the purpose ol forming a local branch of tie itelorm League, Mr I!. A. Wright, the member for Wellington Suburbs, embarked upon the perilous sea of prophecy in an attempt to enlighten his constituents as to the time of the approaching general election. " 1 have no authority for saving tin's," he told I hem.

•‘but I believe that the pre-cnT .'•essum will come to an end about the end ol •otember, and that I lie elections wiil he held somewhere about November llllt. ! base this on the fact iiiat the South Seas Exhibition af Dunedin nil! be opened somewhere before the end of November, and there i-. I oink, reason to believe that rim elections will he over before then. Let nv- it- peat 1 have no authority for save:;: lids." Epoti matters oi this kind .Mr Y\ rig!.* i- not the most observant member of Li:.- llou.se of Representatives, -and I hough he may he right in placing the .• 10.-e of the present -es.-.mu at the end of the current month i! seems unlikely that the Government will he so ill,i ■ -.-I as to hold III;- cicelion ill the ' ante, hitry Carnival Week, which i to lit* graced the. year by the Royal Slow, and will l.e attended by prominent people fro it! all parts ol the Dominion. THE I*III.ME .MINISTER'S VIEW. It is only natural that, the i’rime .Minister should wish to close the session as early as possible and get t-> . t eonstiluetK-ie.s within a few weeks •si the prerogation, lie lias made no see re! of his personal inclinations in tie. s' r.specl.-. Rut lie has si a led exploit!;.- Ilml he is neither going to rush business through the House nor hurry the gem-i'al elect i-itt simply to meet file

'.visiles 111 Ihe liromolfl's of (ho Royal Show n: ( lii'isieliurc-lt or the Exhibition ii 1 I> i • : i* !i ■i. I i is i rue l li;i I mi fa r I lie re.ll I * 1111 }e s s nC the 111 it is ft has pl'OV.re- .e.l verv slowly, sit slowly indeed, that t‘ e Legislative Coiineil has litid scarcely anything to do; hill ii' the noose would so tile down earnestly to work this .week, the Government oxer-, i Ding a little tael: ami the Opposition i'cl'raining from factious obstruction, it should he easy to complete the official pro,'onmine by the end of September, It i> admitted that the Reformers have most to '.rain and the Liberals most to hoe In- a hurried election campaign, hut; inis may he counted among the other fortmies of war and if members were released from attendance in Wellington l.y the coed of the present month they would have fiftle orotund for complaint in being sent to the poll at the end of Oetoher. The public, as well as the Canterbury Carnival and ‘ ilm Dunedin Exhibition, would he well served by such an arrangement.