ORGANISE! EDUCATE! AGITATE

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 47, 15 April 1899, Page 4

ORGANISE! EDUCATE ! AGITATE

The Temperance Refoim Union has bought the use of this column in the interests of "No License." If you caa help with suggestions, facts or CASH address your letter Tempeiance Column. Advkutiseb Office.

Police. The " Waitnate Times " ot April Bth has the following:— "The Piohibition C>nvenfcion held at Dinedin passed a resolution expressing satisfaction with the police for the manner in which they have endeavoured to enfoice the Licensing L iws. . This is a somewhat different attitude to that taken by the piohibitiomsts befoie the Police Commission." We beg to differ ; the attitude of the Prohibitionibtb has not changed, the change has taken place in the police. The attitude of the Piohibitionists has ever been one of open

Honest Crticism. The Police Commission was the outcome of that cutici&m ; the members of the foice who have at heait a, desire to honestly pevfoini the duties devolving on them aie thankful to the Piohibitionists for that Commission and recognise in them tuends indeed. The Prohibitionists not only charged the police with non entoicement of the Licensing Laws, but biaved contumely and proved their chaiges. Nor did the matter lest there, the cause was exposed and it was shown that the men weie not encouraged to enforce those laws, but in most cases injured their prospects by attempting enfoicement. The blame was sheeted home and the political pull of the hquoi ring exposed with the jobbery and

Corruption in high places which prevented any willing man doing his duty by the Licensing Laws. The knowledge given to Commissioner Turnbridge by these exposures has enabled him to so duect the force at his command that now not c nly are there many cases of bleaches of the law biought befoie the Bench of the colony, but, more impoitant still, the cases are so brought that convictions result. The police aie proving that under proper governance they are capable and willing, and chuihsh indeed is the man who would ea\ ll at the Piohibitionists for expiessing satisfaction with the manner in which they now endeavour to enfoie the Licensing Laws. We do not say that even now perfection is reached, or that the Licensing Laws aie enforced as we would like. A man in a state of intoxication came out of an hotel on

Good Friday, and the number of travellers (?) who enter licensed houses on Sundays suggests the consumption of a good deal rnoie " private business " than strict enforcement of the law would allow. We recognise the difficulties under which the police labour, and the slight encouragement given tbern where much might be looked for. For instance, in the North Island last month, an S.M. rebuked a policeman for procuring evidence in a gambling ease by betting with a man himself ; this, according to the bench, was very reprehensible on the part ot the constable. In this Island, during the same month, another S.M. rebuked a constable for engag'ng another man to proeuie evidence in a liquor case ; he shoull in no cass do suoh a thing. " A policeman's lot is not a happy one," he must not procure evidence himself , and he must not engage another man to procuie it ; but he must enforce the laws. The police would be helped and would be glad if the

Government •would, without unnecessary delay, give effect to the suggestions resulting from the Police Commission ; we would suggest that newspapers interested in these matters use their surplus energy in urging upon the administration the necessity for following those suggestions.

A Chance for you to help. The T.R.U. has arranged for meetings to be held in Makikihi, Hannaton, Waihao, Glenavy, Hunter, etc., before ijhe polling day. Our singers and speakers must be conveyed to these places. You believe in prohibition — you have a horse and trap — well, send along and say you will help the cause by driving to one or more meetings and taking some of the woikers. ' Send right now, please, before you forget about it.