A DRINK TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2572, 5 August 1909, Page 4

A DRINK TRAGEDY.

It is to b© hoped that at the inquest to be held to-day concerning the death of the unfortunate man whoso body was found in the river by the Ivaiti, some endeavor will be made to ascertain at what hotel or hotels the victim was supplied with the liquor which resulted in so deplorable & tragedy. The facts that have been - made known go to show that a man who was known to be addicted to over-indulgence in alcoholic liquor was able to obtain not merely enough to render him completely drunk, but, in addition, two bottles of ale and one of whisky. This kind of thing is not only in direct contravention of the wording, as well as the spirit, of the Licensing Act; it is abhorrent and repulsive to the community. The intent of the Licensing Act is to provide the public with the opportunity to obtain reasonable refreshment; and it is because a large section of the community share the view that this privilege - should be'retained that No-license enthusiasts have so far been unable to close the open bars. Thcro are hotelkeepers who not only observe the wording and spirit of the Act, but so conduct their business as to conserve the reputation o'f the trade ; but there are, unfortunately, others whose greed blinds them to every consideration of humanity, or even of ordinary discretion. Such will sell liquor to any man, woman or youth, so long as there is a sixpence left in the customer s pocket to pay for it, and only the fear of a visit from the police keeps them within any bounds at all. It is these individuals who send drunken men on to the streets, and degrade the trade which other hotelkeepers are trying to keep on a high level. In Gisborne we have amongst our publicans men who would ornament any business they were engaged in, men of sterling integrity and conscientious principles but, unfortunately, there are others of whom this cannot be said. It is not certain that the man Norton was deliberately soaked with liquor till he could consume no more, and was then supplied with two bottles of ale and one of whisky, but the- circumstances attendant upon his decease are certainly open to that construction. Such a. case as this should bo investigated to the fullest extent, if only for the purpose of exonerating those hotelkeepers who would not tolerate the serving of a man in tho condition Norton must have been in when he purchased his last drink.