Ilevieic of Revieica, l/S/06. 



Law and Order. 



three convictions, the owner of tlie house should be 

 lined as well as the licensee (ajid that would make 

 him careful as to the tenants he contracted with), 

 and persons found in the house after prohibited 

 hours should ha\e to prove that they were not there 

 fcr the purpose of drinking. 



WHl' DISTINCTIONS BEnVEEN LAW-BKEAKERa ? 



Now why should not law-breaking publicans be- 

 hunted down like other law-breakers? A law-breaker 

 is a law-breaker, and should be treated as such. In- 

 deed this class, so niiuiy of which break it so deter- 

 minedly, (lersislently, and tloggedly, is a greater 

 menace to the community than an ocx-asional cow- 

 stealer, who is pursued with all the rigour of the 

 law, and i)Ossiblv consigned to gaol. A little time 

 ago, » poor woman with hungry chiklren was fined 

 for taking a few i^otatoes out of a paddcxrk, but the 

 publican who breaks the law as regards Sunday 

 trading finds majiy loopholes to escape through. 

 I.aii's should be enforced, or. repealed. 



WHAT WATCHFUl/ CITIZENS CAN DO. 



Now what the law cannot do, or does not do, a 

 little patient watching can do. It was amusing to 

 see the consternation of some jiublicans who were 

 under the impression that the doors of their houses 

 were watched. Why that should be so is a puzzle 

 to the law-abiding citizen, who would offer no pro- 

 ,^ lest and feel no indignity if a hundred eyes watched 

 ': the front iloor of his house on a Sunday morning. 

 Eut some that were watched on one Sunday scrupu- 

 lously observed the la.w on the next, and a. mother 

 was ecstatic because her sons, for the first time for 

 .1 long time, were sr>ber on a Sunday, being unable 

 lo obtain liquor. If the rnere fact that a few men 

 ■watched houses can [iroduce this effect, what could 

 not be done if every ounce of power given by a 

 fountry to a Chief Secretary were exerted. 



WHO IS TO BLAME ? 



Now no pity must be wasted in a case like this. 

 Tc is always painful to deal with men in high posi- 

 tions, but it is a question not simply of gambling 

 ;ind li(]Uor. but of administration of laws. Laivs 

 sliould be enforced or repealed. None of these 

 things can l>e dealt with simply by talking about 

 prin(-i])les. It is not sufficient to say that administra- 

 tion is lax. Adirinistration is not a person who can 

 l>e inspired or blamed. Administration is in the 

 hands of a man. .-Vdministration can no more put 

 itself into motion than can a steam engine. 

 .And the man is responsible. Moreover the 

 man is ])aid to du the work. Communities are 

 lU'fler ni> ccimpliment to the men tiiev iilai"e in 



high positions. The work is not honor.iry. They are 

 paid, and paid well, for it. It is a business arrange- 

 ment, pure and simple. The community recognises 

 the importance of the work by the salary which it 

 l'>'.vs. ^looo a year means responsibility. And 

 when it jnits a man in a high position it expects to 

 get the work done. If the tool the man uses is not 

 sufficient to enable him to do the work, he should 

 say so, and try to get a better. If Parliament will 

 not give him a better, he should resign. If he is not 

 constitutionally fitted for the position, not aggressive 

 and strong enough to carry it out, he also should re- 

 sign. Pay and results, that is what the whole thing 

 is boiled down to — pay and results. If the pay be 

 taken, the results should be shown. 



The whole State recognises this laxity of adm'nis- 

 tration. The present Government has been doing 

 splendi<l work generally, bringing to Ixyir upon many 

 matters a business acumen that has been sadly lack- 

 ing in jKist administrations, and the country is un- 

 mistakably in favour of Mr. Bent's progressive legis- 

 lation. He has shown a fearless front in reg;u'd to 

 social reforms that is acceptable to the whole coun- 

 try. He is responding to the wishes of the people 

 by introducing legislation regarding gaming and 

 lii]uor. The wonderful ethical revival in Victoria 

 during the last two months indicates the rise of a 

 moxement such as has not been known before, and 

 it stands solidly behind Mr. Bent in his reform work. 

 But it is the act of a friend to point out a danger, 

 and the administration of the Chief Secretary's De- 

 [i.irtment is a grave danger. It is the weak link in 

 the chain, and Mr. Bent's best friends see the danger 

 that lies before him. If this be strengthened, indica- 

 tions ]Kiint to a long and useful career l>efore his 

 (loxernment. To change the figure, will he, in the 

 interests of the people, keep his ship of State safe 

 by steering clear of this rock of danger that lies 

 straight in his path ? 



// lawi be in tl/c .\/a//i/e hook, thcv s/ioidd !ic en- 

 forced or repealed. 



The only course open is that such pressure 

 shculd be brought to bear upon the Chief Secretary 

 that he shall vigorously administer his De|)artment 

 or resign. It is \ery evident that the country is in 

 no mx:«;>d to be trifled with. It is a case of a man 

 aL'ainst the interests of the greater )iart of 

 the comnninity, and it is the latter that should be 

 considered. Lmis should be enforced or repealed, 

 and it is the duty of the Government to the eleirtors 

 to see that the man at the head of each Department 

 c;iiries out energetically, faithfully and truly the 

 duties for the due performance of which a long- 

 suflVring country pavs. 



