ANTI-SHOUTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1658, 6 January 1917, Page 3

ANTI-SHOUTING.

IS THE LAW ENFORCED ?

In a recent issue of the Otaki Mail appeared an editorial note romarlring on the liagrant way in which the anti-shouting regulations were openly flouted in many ’places. “Mr W. IT. Field, member for the district,” says the Mail, “has strong faith in the anti-shouting law, and disagrees with our remarks. He states that he has not seen a case of infraction of the law, and is (jiiite satisfied it will put a stop, if it has not already doB so, to the worst tea lures of Inc old shouting evil —viz., the treating by each one of a party for the whole of the others. Mr Field adds that in the club (u which he belongs, shouting is now unknown, and most members hail the law a-- a god-send, and trust it will never he repealed.'' Mr Field forwarded a eopy of the .Mail’s recent article to the Hon. Mr Herdman, Mini.-ter for .Justice, and has received the following reply:— “Dear Sir, —1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd inst., forwarding a, clipping from the Otaki Mail of a, leading article appearing in that journal in reference to the regulations prohibiting treating in hotel bars. In reply, 1 beg to inform you that 1 have noted the comment which the article contains, and also the representations yon have made in your letter to me. In lieu of provisions being made for the early (dosing of hotels, Parliament passed a law prohibiting treating in the bars, and I lie administration of the regulations made under the Act is a matter which comes within my province. From evidence furnished to me, it seems apparent that some hotels and their employees, especially in the country districts, treat (he law very lightly, and 1 may say that I have given strict instructions to I he police to use every means to detect offences, and to institute proceedings against offenders. The statement that the law has not caused any diminution of drunkenness is not home out by the reports and statistics furnished to mo by the police, in the cities the number of cases of drunkenness has greatly decreased, while I am informed that the profits of hotelkeepers from the sale of liquor have considerably diminished. Wellington City, by reason of its proximity to the Trenthara Military Camj), is visited by thousands of soldiers, whose friends, pror to the operation of the autishouting regulations, treated them unwisely in their hospitality as far as hotels are concerned; hut since the regulations mime into force the po.-ce stale that viiere is very little cause for complaint in this direction. If the regulations have had the effect which my reports claim they have had, I think that the position is very satisfactory. The police will not relax their efforts to detect offenders, and with the assistance of the public I think even better results may be achieved, —Yours faithfully, A. L. Herdrnan.”