THE LICENSING ACT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1089, 20 June 1882, Page 2

THE LICENSING ACT.

TO THE EDITOR. Mr Editor : Sir, —I was very much gratified by reading your very able and independent article on the recent alleged breach of the Licensing Act, in which the very great powers of reasoning and logic of our Resident Magistrate were so plainly brought to light. How, when he pointed out that by moving an action from one clause or section of an Act of Parliament to another clause or section of such Act the evidence of four or five respectable tradesmen can be turned into so much perjury, or of no value whatever in furthering the ends of justice, and by tho same line of reasoning why the evidence of one man who happens to have the mystic letters J.P. behind his name, is of so much increased value as to outweigh and entirely nullify the value of the other five who are so unfortunate as to have no affix to their plain but untarnished names.

I look on it, sir, as a gratuitous insult from the R.M. on any man who gave evidence in that memorable case. Now to my simple and unlearned mind, I have always been under the impression that justice was a very impartial article, and that John Corduroy was, in the eye of the law, quite the equal of Reginald Broadcloth, but how grievously have I been deceived I am now made aware in more than one case brought before R.M.’a or J.P.’s Now I will hark back to Poulgrain’s case, the fountain head of all this squabble, and just try to reason ourselves into the belief that it was very necessary to brand a youth as a gaol bird because he did not commit an offence for which he in his bewilderment did not understand to what he was pleading. I dare say the R.M. thinks that a poor devil of a drunk or a disorderly looks at his own position in just as business-like a point of view as the R.M. does himself; but he must be in error, because one is there to receive punishment, and the other to give punishment—the recipient of the punishment very often being entirely at the mercy of the state of the bilious system of the administrator of the law. This is a fact I can assure you. LQ.E.D.] Now I don t suppose there was anything more than pure Maori philanthropy that shocked Mr Hamlin’s excessively moral feelings; he could not

stand seeing poor deluded Hiria being toyed with, cuddled, or what not! Oh no! He must not be manly enough to inform the landlord or his manager ! Oh no! but he sneaks off to the police, who, seeing they had a live J.P. to deal with, did exactly as he bid them, that is, locked the accused (Poulgrain) up. The next scene is the Court House, where the dread charge is read off to the unfortunate lad, half stupefied with fear, and not of over bright intellectual power ; I venture to say that he actually did not know into what extent of trouble his plea of “ guilty ” could lead him. The evidence of the J.P. was taken; tho enormity of skylarking with a young woman was severely commented on ; the effect on such a refined and moral man as Mr. Hamlin explained, and after a lot of useless twaddle from the Bench, Charles Poulgrain was sent to a common gaol for fourteen days. All for an offence five respectable men swear never was committed. And when at the hearing of the sequel case Mr. Brassey referred to the injustice that had been meted to Poulgrain, up jumps the dignity of tho Resident Magistate with “ I tolerate no reflection Sah !” No !! He knew it would not bear rousting about!! He knows that he has committed a far more heinous crime than Poulgrain, but has too much egotism to acknowledge the fact and not enough generosity to try to amend what he has wronged. But lam presuming too much on your space, so I will conclude with a caution to all young men who who may indulge in waltzing at any of the forthcoming balls—that is—look well whether Mr. Hamlin is eyeing you —be extremely modest and sedate—and don’t be too pressing on any young lady to favour as a partner or else a case of Poulgrain may eusuc.— I am, &c., More Justice and Less Law.