INTERPROVINCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2700, 31 October 1889, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

(BV TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNK DIN, Wednesday. Several deputations have waited oil the Hon. Mi- Fergus. The Good Templar and other temperance organisations brought under his notice the open flagrant and almost universal violation of the provisions of tho Licensing Act in regard to Sunday trading, and wished to know why the police were not permitted to go in plain clothes and detect this class of offence like others. Mr Fergus having replied that nothing prevented it, the spokesman of the depulation said itwas not the case. Mr Fergus said the reply astonished him. The deputation went ou to say the present law was not effective, and should be at once amended. If the police force was not sufficient to stop Sunday traffic, the force should be increased by means of revenue officers in plain clothes, who should be moved about the country. The deputation had reason to believe the Government had discouraged these prosecutions. Mr Fergus regretted to hear tiie statements of the deputation, and that the traffic was so flagrant as represented. The Government had never interfered in the slightest degree, and the matter never had been brought under their notice. They would have been the last to interfere with the police ; the inspectors were responsible for the administration of the districts. He was not aware that Mr Weldon was in any way interfered with or hampered by his superiors. If lie thought he had been he would at once institute enquiries. He did not think the appointment of revenue officers necessary, the existing legislation being quite sufficient to cope with the matter, if not other means would have to be devised.