THE WEEK, THE WORLD, AND WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9132, 3 July 1908, Page 6

THE WEEK, THE WORLD, AND WELLINGTON.

(By Frank Morton.)

Parliament Now On.—The Houbb <SF Sardinbs.—Tub Cukbk of Sly 'GIIOa,—SOMK CONSIDERATIONS APROPOS.

As I write the fourth session of the sixteenth Parliament of New Zealand is about to The refitting of Government House for the purpose of Parliament is virtually completed. The floors are carpeted, tne chambers and the ante-rooms are '■ furnished, the bridge is built. When the division hell rings, there will be I some famous sprints of corpulent and comfortable members from the library. The idea of Mr Aitken, Mr Bollard, Mr Tarn Duncan, and some others, making a wild rush through that long tunnel gives me a gentle joy. That, however, is a point apart. The "Dominion" assures us that the ' scarlet hangings in the improvised Council Chamber are "voluptuous." If that charge is substantiated, there will surely be something to inquire into. The "Dominion" had bstter be careful, particularly now that the Premier has his eye on it. Anyhow, Parliament is about to commence. It may last only three months, as the sanguine predicts, or 4 it may last longer. In any in case, it will be a terribly cramped Parliament. As a substitute for Parliament House, Government House is quite ineffective. Virtually no provision car. be made for the accommodation of guests and visitord. Only liquid refreshments will be at the disposal of the members. The \ Speaker scarcely conceals his disgust at the nature of the accommodation

provided for him. Representatives of the press will be crowded higgledy'piggledy, like sardines stirred up with a fork. Hansard reporters will • make shift on the floor of the House. The place will have some of the distinguishing qualities of a New York tenement house. Opinions differ as to the vexed matter of No-License; but there can surely be no two opinions as to the necessity of enforcing the law in NoLicense areas. Despite the extravagance of partisans on both sides, the fact is now well established that there is an enormous illicit trade in alcohol carried on in Invercargill. The, evil has become so bad and so flagrant that even the police have had to admit its existence. It has, indeed, become so bad and so flagrant that the public may now reasonably demand and insist that the police shall ■ get honestly to work to remedy the abuse. It is true that members of the public rorce are human and fallible beings; but it is equally true thkt it'is virtually impossible, for a sly-grog shop to exist anywhere, for any length of time, without the police knowing it. I am not decrying the police. lam even willing to admit that the police do occasionally ' some good work. I go so far as to proffer the opinion that they do quite as much good work as they can be expected to do in existing circumstances, for they aro the worst paid class of men in the Government service. Men in positions of such responsibility should be paid well; well enough to make life comfortable for them and to 'spur them to constant endeavour, well enough to place them largely beyond temptation. At present, in some places, there can be no doubt that occasional law-breakers live under the unexpreseed protection 'of the police. In Dunedin during my time there was at least one sly-grog shop that was quite notorious, and that traded almost openly. With a well-paid force, a force with a true sense of responsibility to the citizens, a force without excuse to be tempted by bribes Bnd palm-greas-ings, no such place could exist for a week. In any case, the time has now fully come when No-Licens-; should have a thorough trial on its merits. So far, in every No-License area, sly-grog shops have crawled in to take the place of the licensed houses. It is the easiest thing in the world to get a drink in Invercargill, or Balclutha, or Ashburton. I hold that that should not be so.

V.'hile any law stands on the Statute 1 Book, that law should be enforced; especially in eases where a great jmmber of earnest people are watching the operation and /effects of the law with humane and heart-felt intarea 1 ;. In all these No-License areas, the police can put down illicit trading. It means some passing increase of unpopularity for the police, and it will necessitate industry and courage; but it can be done. It is sheer stupidity and folly to talk of illicit trading as inevitable under No-License. If our means to enforce aiiy law are not adequate, they should at once be made adequate. To sit apathetic while any law is generally dishonoured is the flat negation of democracy, i I am myself as much interested in the experiment of No-License as any financially uninterested man well can be. I should like to sec what would be the result of the No-License law in any area in which it was thoroughly and fearlessly enforced and administered. This is a matter in which I am quite without bias. For good reason, 1 hate alcohol and loathe drunkenness. I should personally be delighted if there were not a droD of intoxicating liquor in the world tomorrow. On the other hand, I cannot help having grave doubts of the immediate tendency and ultimate result of all such prohibitive legislation as is not positively necessaiy V for the security of property and the prevention of crime. So you will get an inkling of my position. I am one of the millions of men who would, be content to swallow their doubts and fears if they could'be once assured of the good effect of No-License. In New Zealand so far we have no data to go on. Up till now, No-License areas have not been sober areas. I know a case in point; facts for which I can vouch. A football team left the J3lufF for a tour in Southland. Because the team hud to play in some No-Licjnse towns, a case or two of whisky taken along. In the NoLicense towns th>> team had plenty to drink ; quite as much as was good for the footballers. But the men had no netd or excuse to broach their own whisky until they got to Sterling, whicu is a licensed area. At Balclutna, I have seen whisky poured solemnly from a teapot, and served as tea. If the police did not connive in that case, then the constable on duty was tne blindest and stupidest man I ever met. It's time an end was made of that sort of thing. Now

let the police assist the public by en* forcing the law and keeping these No-License districts reasonably sober. Let there be no sly grog-selling. And so let us have an opportunity of seeing what cornea of it all.