DRINK AND CRIME.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1123, 15 August 1882, Page 4

DRINK AND CRIME.

Two-thiuds of the crime of the country, says the “ London Times,” has been traced to the abuse of intoxicating drinks. If this is a correct view, the seller of intoxicating drinks can hardly be the useful public servant he takes pleasure in representing himself. He can ask, at most, to be tolerated, and his appeal for even this measure of grace must be clearly and convincingly made out. This, we’ believe, it can be. The public-house system is a monstrous evil, but it is a less evil by far than would follow from a consistent attempt to put it down. The attempt, in the first place, is not likely to be successful. The demand for drink will create the supply. The passion where it exists is far too strong to be amenable to repressive rules. If it is denied in one place it will find its satisfaction somewhere else. The licensed victuallers have experience on their side thus far. They know well that restrictions which are applied to licensed houses do not admit of being so extended as to meet the whole case. Their petition for fair play is, therefore, reasonable upon the face of it. If temperance advocates really mean to deciare war upon the liquor traffic they must go beyond anything they have as yet ventured to propose. Instead of striking at a symptom they must sot about their work in a rooi-aud-braiu-It way. Tii.-v must df.nl with the origin of the mis, chief, with the importers and producers of inli .-.ieatiug drink, and not only with a section of the retail sellers, The licensed victualler may urge, with some reason, that he is not fairly treated. lie lias been picked out from the class to winch he belongs, and has been set up ns a mark against which all shots nro to be directed. It is his popularity which is thus fatal to him. If he were less in favour with one part of his country-men, ha would be less exposed to the righteous indignation of another part. The best defence he can make fur himself is that, nuisance or not, he is irrepressible If he is put down in one shape, he will rise up in another at least as mischievous as the former one. As well attempt to legislate against a miasma and leave uudrained the pestilential source from which it springs.