Illegal Grog "Shanties."
TO THE EDITOR.
SIR - It is about time the attention of the public was drawn to the disgraceful
and illegal way in which drink is dispensed on Sunday by some of the Chinese
since our police appear to have too much to occupy their attention at other
parts of the town on that day. But Sunday is not the only time the law is infringed
by these aliens. Any night of the week - particularly Saturday night, - these
dens present a more flourishing appearance than any of the hotels in the town.
Whether they keepers of these foul dens pay any license I know not, but judging
by the cheap and nasty way in which liquor is served out I should be inclined
to think they do not.
As far as I can learn these are frequented by some of the working classes whose
occupation keeps them employed on be [sic] outskirts of the town, and drink
is so much cheaper at the Chinese than it is at the hotels. The most prominent
feature about the frequenters of these frouzy fruit shops, is their persistent
howl about Chinese cheap labour, which was most apparent at the recent elections.
One night last week a report was current to the effect that a man was missing.
On a search being made, however, the missing one was found, with three other
men, one of these dens, each with a long glass of beer beside him.
That this sort of thing is allowed to go unchecked reflects great credit of
our present police force. I have often noticed with what zeal the police watch
the white publicans, with the hope of catching them supplying [one line not
clear] open after hours.
Do the police ever enter these dens and ascertain if the occupants hold a storekeepers
license! or any license for the sale of liquor! If not, why not.
Trusting these few remarks will have the effect of lessening, if not abolishing
this disgraceful traffic.
I am, Sir, etc.,
A. WANDERER.
Port Darwin, 15th July 1902.
|
