Low Level Administration of Law.

Of other aspects of Seddonian administration much could be said that no honest man can refute. The aggressive friendliness towards the interests of those engaged in the liquor business in this colony made this Government's administration of the licensing laws in the King Country, Crutha, Sydenham, Newtown, and elsewhere a reproach to a democracy. In Sydenham and Newtown licenses without legal status were permitted to remain operative until an indignant public opinion forced from the Government an enforcement of statute law. Quibbles and wretched legal technicalities were permitted to rob the people of Bruce, Newtown and Chalmers of their victoires in social reform. This Ministry moved no finger to assert the people's right to rule against the power of vested interest.

Every legislative proposal connected with licensing as drafted and introduced in the Parliament by the Seddon Government has been in spirit and letter a licensed liquor trade protection Bill. The Prohibitionists in the House of Representatives, always alert and vigilant, have been successful in asserting popular rights, and, after tremendous efforts, and by means of a superb organisation, have converted many of the Premier's proposals into measures conferring some power upon the people.

The success of whatever further experiments in the suppression of the liquor business the people may decide to make will be limited, discounted and largely destroyed if the spirit of the Seddon administration is to continue to control the forces in this colony responsible for law and order.