The Licensing Question

Inspectors Pardy and Cullen, two of the most capable and esteemed inspectors in the colony, stated they had both been removed for doing their duty in regard to the enforcement of the licensing laws. Sergeants and constables made the same statements, and showed that the threats of removal made by publicans were followed by the removal almost immediately. Mr. Northcroft, stipendiary magistrate, said:—"For some years past, political influence had undermined the whole of the value of the force. Specific cases of that kind had come under his notice." This witness was followed by inspectors, sergeants, constables, lawyers, and other citizens, who affirmed the same fact, and quoted chapter and verse in support of their opinion. We have six inspectors in this colony. The examination of one of them was a pitiable sight. Another inspector was on his trial for being of "drunken habits, and addicted to gambling." the Crown Prosecutor, barristers, surveyors, commercial men, six police officers, business people, and others, all testified to having at various times and places seen the inspector the worse for drink, and several reliable witnesses detailed when and where they had gambled with him for stakes, usually at the solicitation of the inspector. In his defence the inspector admitted the gambling habits. In the course of this case I proved that he had been warned by the Committee of the Working Men's Club, of which he was a member, for having gambled contrary to the rules on the club premises, and that his resignation followed almost immediately. Several of the witnesses swore to having seen this inspector absolutely drunk. His habits for years past have been matters of notoriety, but he was an old friend of the present Premier on the West Coast, and, despite his conduct, was recently promoted to the rank of first-class inspector.

It would be superfluous to quote evidence to show the failure to enforce the licensing laws, it was voluminous, and came from all classes; it is corroborated by the new Commissioner of Police in his report, just handed to Parliament, in which he Bays that, unless the law is amended, he cannot undertake to satisfactorily administer the liquor laws. Whilst recognising and admitting the extreme difficulty of enforcing liquor laws in licensing districts, the same excuses cannot be urged by the police for the failure to prevent sly grog-selling in the King country and the Clutha. The King country is the special abode of the Maori race, and is a prohibited area by statute; the Clutha is a prohibited area, as a result of a popular vote. Evidence from doctors, schoolmasters, farmers, justices of the peace, police, and magistrates, proved conclusively that the enforcement of the prohibitory law was spasmodic and reluctant. The terms of intimacy existing between the brewing interests and the present Ministry, and the power the liquor interests exert over the administration, explain the unsatisfactory condition of things in the King country and Clutha. My contention is, that no vested or other interest must be permitted to grip our executive powers. The administration must be for the State, and not for sections.