CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1785, 6 November 1895, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Underriip- eirciuiritiumbs" wh dever is. the . E'Jijoi- responsible for. mutter contained in correspondence ]

4 4 i (to the! Editor. } '■A n. Si|, .-pKdffdly allow me space in your interesting columns to briefly refer to a matter affecting .the public good and ths peace ib'f oiir town, i'.e., with reference to the .much debated liquor question. It'll a well known fact that we haye excellent laws in this colony for the: wise control of the satle of intoxicating liquors. Laws which regulate* the hoursvthaf ; thp licensed houses shaYT close; :hH)Q the Sale, of drink Ott:fhindays,(ete. Now, Sir, I am not ai prohibitionist, but I am a firm believer in the law as at' present constituted being enforc d 'to its full. It is' a wpll-knowu fact, Sir, that the publicans of this district push their trade atMl times and seasons in defiance of the lawj and yet right under the very, eyes and with the full knowledge%f the guardians of the peace; and yet the police are quite powerless to stop fchislopen violation of the law ; either because of vested interests or the almost impossibility of getting a conviction. Surely, "Mr Editor, somethingoUghtto be done tocKeck this evil; our young men frequent these houses, and are induced to remain—long after closing time —playing cards -and billiards, etc., with the , usual attendant drinking, aud.thus they contract habits and vices which will be anything but helpful to them in after life. Methinks, Sir, that if the present law was rigidly enforced there would be less cry about Prohibition; but while things are allowed to drift a large number of moderates will be inclined to support the prohibition vote when the time comes.—l am, etc., • " A Parent.