Queued Up For Liquor!

Ridiculous System In Norfolk Island.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Norfolk Is., Nov. 7.

AMONG the laws framed in bygone days for the administration of Norfolk Island, is one that needs immediate and drastic revision. It deals with the control of intoxicating liquors and is frankly outdated in the present conditions of life on the island; in fact, its provisions are little short of an insult to the average decent and self-respecting citizen.

In past days, perhaps, it was in the best interests of a simpler people that access to unrestricted drink should not be made too easy; but nowadays, with the population practically doubled and drawn from all classes and all parts of the Empire, it is ridiculous and galling to find such restrictions still rigidly enforced.

It is humiliating for any reputable person, accustomed to drink in mod eration and free of supervision, to have to range himself with a furtive little bag in a fortnightly queue at the Gov ernment Bond Store and make his audible choice between a bottle of whisky, two bottles of wine or half a dozen bottles of beer.

Many residents refuse to comply with these conditions and either forego the stimulant that may be almost essential to health or privately brew forbidden lager and light wines—these last from guavas or passionfruit—and very nice, too. This last information will be no news to the administration which strives fruitlessly—there is a joke somewhere here —to suppress this, harmless traffic.

We know, of course, that the greater part of the revenue drawn from Nor folk is derived from the official sale of drink and we cannot expect Can berra to relinquish such revenue and withdraw in favour of some private in dividual who will build a hotel and apply for the usual license to sell liquor in the usual way. But why should not Canberra build such a hotel, equip it with good accommodation for visitors and instal their own manager, who would be responsible to our own administrator here for the orderly con duct of the place? Special regulations to meet special conditions might be drawn up and rigidly enforced; but in the general interests of the com munity as a whole and to attract a class of tourist who at present sensibly fight shy of an island where such con ditions obtain, it is time, and more than time, that this antiquated state of things should be called to the notice of Authority.

Canberra please note!