The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1919. UNSOUND LIQUOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 480, 10 June 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1919. UNSOUND LIQUOR.

"We nothing extenuate, nor let down auoht in malice.''

Since we*wrote our leader entitled 'A Plea for Sound Liquor' on April 2;">th last, we have received a mass of evidence, direct and indirect, that, we have touched a chord that echoed in a good many hearts, and wo have received frequent requests not to allow the matter to drop out of sight. We had no intention of doing so, but the pressure of other matters has up to the present . hindered any further prosecution of the subject; but we gladly recur to it at the first opportunity, in the hope that the public will aid in redressing what we firmly believe to be a most monstrous crime againsl the health and morals of this country.

We pointed out in oar last article that the proper machinery existed for the detection and prosecution of the evil-doers who poison the bodies and destroy the minds of those who are unfortunate enough to imbibe the immature or adulterated spirits too often sold in this country. What we complained of was the non-enforcement of the existing provisions. We are now glad to learn that, in this county at any rate, some attention is likely to be directed to the quality of the liquor sold. At the meeting of the Franklin Licensing Committee last Thursday, the chairman. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., stated that reports had come from all over the district that the quality of the liquor supplied had not been satisfactory, lie suggested that the Clerk oi the Court should write to the pnper authorities. asking them to inspect, periodically, all liquors sold. Anyone supplying liquor not up to the -tanda r d would be prosecuted. The Committee approved of Mr. Hunt's motion, and we hope it will he carried into effect, though we know how slow Covernment departments are to act in such mattters.

We have been told, and see no reason to Misbelieve the statement, that a great ileal of the evil we complain of arises from the system of " tied" houses. It is said that the rents required for these premises are so large that it is only by Sunday and after-hours trading, and by the adulteration of the liquor sold that the publican can make both ends meet. If this he so, then by all means let "tied"' houses he abolished. No doubt, also, in tli" country districts especially, the absence of healthy competition in trade is also responsible for the inferior, if not actually deleterious liquor sold. No stronger argument could be :uh..!!ccd for the abolition of tli ( i monopoly which ha- long held the (ountr , b\ Ml ; : hroal tliriMigh (he hold il has acooircd o\ or "lir |)*> I»!i<*r:;?i>-. The insistence that unsound lii|U( i shall ':--I he sold is ■< mutter over wiicdi all mod era l e minded men .'■ both Ltm onhihition and continuance partii - can join hamK )! ilic do fii.-ii join •>' :' a. \ ii! iv -•> irru-istihlc tlm' ao (h,v< nunci '. however much in lu< han is u\ ihe " trade." i nid -; and againsi it.