IS THE ANTI-SHOUTING LAW ENFORCED?

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 256, 18 October 1916, Page 9

IS THE ANTI-SHOUTING LAW ENFORCED?

Last session a largely signed petition was presented to Parliament asking for hotel bars to be closed at G p.m. daily. The \ush of the people was flouted in a most shameless manner, but we were informed that antishouting was to prove a great restriction upon the consumption and sale of liquor. Every member of the Cabinet voted for it. Now, after being passed with such a great flourish of trumpets, is the law being enforced ? Evidently not. At the inquest in Christchurch upon John Finlay, who died as the result of a blow inflicted by Charles Graham (who has since been sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter), the witnesses openly admitted shouting for each other, and the barmaid shouting for them. The Coroner, Mr Bishop, “expressed his disgust and contempt, and felt thoroughly ashamed of men going into hotels and breaking the regulations that had been made in regard to ‘shouting’ or ‘treating’ in hotels, especially at a time when the whole nation was in distress.” Again, at the inquest upon Frank Treves, found dead under the Te Popo bridge, at Midhurst, evidence was given th.it the deceased and a friend came into town with £47 5 s each, and in less than a week the deceased was found dead with 3s in his pocket, and his friend had 12s and 2lb. of tobacco left out of £47 ss. The Coroner said that in less than a week over £yo had seemingly been spent in drink by three men. Who believes that three men drank .£<)<> worth of liquor in less than a week ? But whether they drank it or shouted for others “the trade” got the cheques. After this, who can talk of regulating a trade which doesn't care how many men go under, how much the loss of efficiency is to the Dominion, if only they can till their own pockets? Is it a case of “can t or “won’t” enforce the law with the police? Surely the Minister for Justice will now take action when the law has been openly and shamelessly broken.