Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1894. THE DUTY OF THE PUBLIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4669, 15 March 1894, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1894. THE DUTY OF THE PUBLIC.

SECOND EDITION

In this district the publicans are masters of the situation under the '• Alooholio Liquors Sale Control Act." Their nominees must control the new Licensing Committee, there will be no increase of licenses, a thing they do not deaire—and thpre will be no decrease of licenses, an alternative which would be still more obnoxioup to them. Accepting these foots, what is the outlook and-will there be a better control in the future than the'rp has been in the past ? We are inclined to believe that there will be a decided step in advance. Under the old Act the police were almost powerless lo ■ check glaring and frequent evasions of the law. They were not backed up properly by the old Licencing Committees, and sometimes in a Court of Justice they were discredited aud discouraged; It remains to be seen whether, under the Central Committee to be eleoted'next week, they will he notftuly backed up in discharging their duty, but called to order if they neglept it. The new Committee' will be presided over by the Btipendary Magistrate, and he will, doubtless, influence it in a right direotioq. Old settlers who remember the District Licensing Committees of twenty years «go, of which Mr H. S. WardelJ, 8.M., was Chairman, will recollect that the control of public-houses then was a leal one, and that Mr WardelJ was almost a martinet with any publican who did not toe the jnark, or , who earned a bad name in theoom muuity. We believe, too, that Mr Hutchison, in his new capacity, will be loyally supported in any efforfs he may make to regulate the traffic by even the Trade candidates. We are not going lo disguise the faot that the bulk of the men who must necessaiily form the new Committee are trade nominees, but they go in unpledged and freehanded, and they are men who-are likely to command the respect of the public,. We there, fore beljeve that though the new .Committee is not likely to be as strong as we could have desired, if will yet be very much stronger and more efficient than the' weak-kneed Committees wbich it succeeds. The. duty of the public—both the prohibitionist and the anti-prohibitionist public—is to give the Act a fair ftial! All must respect the law and even if the law be bud,a strict administration of it is the purest way of Therefore we say pick the best men out ou the list of candidates apd vpte for them. We find plen|y.pf men on it who possess badkbone and honesty of purpose. These are the men.we shall yoto for guite irrospeotiyft of whether they are 6f are not trade candida|fs, 'and. n.uite irresptpfive of'whether they live in Masterton) Pahiatua. Eketahutla or Whareanis, jf apy of .our friends hesitate to rote we say they Bhirk a duly'imposed upon them by law, and if they doubt as to whom they- ought to vote we say piok.out men whom they know to be honest and to have some grit in them. Prohibitionists, are' justified, if it be i,against tßeirconscienoejin not coming '• fprward as candidates but thev will i ! not fie justified in refusing to give the i vote which the law calls upon thorn I to exercise. Even : Jrohibit)oriistß | must reepcbt the law,- and jf they I doubt its efficacy; the best way to j reeolre the doubt will betb submit j 'the Act to a strict

Our contemporary recommends'that the Stipendiary Magistrate for >Lis' (jisirioj pigtrict Judge, end we quite'cpnoiir'irthii' ideai, It has not Bltogetherihelobarm of novelty as we understand' that for some time been unde c. the considerfttion. of tfae authoritiesin the'Emrnr? Uij,*j\ is probablethat either Mr Hutohißon, whose qualifications "for;; thelpbßitiorijjre undoubted; 'will bev'sppointed/or this dißttifliwijl, )p|i;i|i^ii^b|;CoJir^

i6nftble;yaß-it%)uld to oif theCabrt so that dtiuiinsl oases miglit'also' be dealt with locally. We'ttuji Mr Hogg, M.HiH.j'.willmato it Ins buainess. to. MB .that in this(very important matter the interests of his constituents are not aaoriflced. ;