SLY-GROG SELLING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 129, 28 July 1870, Page 6

SLY-GROG SELLING.

(To the Editor of the Tuapefyx Times.) Sib, — In the Court last week some of our townspeople were pulled up for gly-grog selling. I don't think the Course the Government are adopting reflects, much credit upon them. From what I can hear, au old mau is employed to procure convictions, who stand at par in the eyes of the public — a man whose evidence in prdinary cases would only be taken for what it is worth. The authorities jfcoo, are giving him every encouragement to go into people's houses' and adopt every low cunning dodge that an evil disposition can imagine, and by means of falsehood and misrepresentation inducing people to give him drink. In cases where by pleading poverty he has obtained a drop of grog, and the people refused to take |iis money, he has immediately thrown |he money down on the table, and said $hat he had plenty. Now. Sir, I think |his remedy carried out by the Go-, verntnent is worse than the evil, and, as he is in the service of the Government, he cannot commit himself. He is sure to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me Tasmania, especially when there is a five pound note sticking to every case. Sometimes a £5 note has got a long conscience. I think, sir, the sooner tbis low work is put a stop to, the better \ it is well known that both in this country and in Victoria all small storekeepers sell grog ; and sometimes in travelling in a part of the country very scanty inhabited, a man is glad to get a glass of grog, and pay well for it too. The Government, if they want to put an effectual stop to sly-grog selling, must Reduce the license to £10 or ,£ls, and do away with bottle licenses. Supposing the license were reduced, then the law might be made much more bindiug, and say a fine of £100 or eighteen months " imprisonment inflicted. It strikes me such alterations would have the desired effect sooner than the illegal cause now carried out. — I am, &c, Straight. Lawrence, July 25.