Meeting of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2969, 20 October 1879, Page 3

Meeting of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association.

A meeting of the above Association was held at the Park Hotel this afternoon. Mr Gorman presided. Tbe object of the meeting was to reconsider the motion passed on Thursday with regard to sending a delegate to Wellington, and also to consider a telegram from Mr Acton Adams. The notice convening the meeting was then read. TELEGRAMS. A telegram was received from Mr Acton Adams, in which he stated that a delegate need not be sent. A telegram was also received from Mr Jos. 1 ole, iv which he stated that he had forwarded a bill, in which he had inserted lighting and other clauses. With regard to this last telegram it was decided to wait until next mail from South :jn order to see if it brought the bill spoken of by Mr Tole's telegram, t A telegram was read from Christchurch, which stated that the delegate from that town would leave by the Albion steamer. THE DELEGATE QUESTION. 1 Mr Burns proposed " that no delegate be sent." Mr Rowan, of the Suffolk Hotel, seconded. The Chairman said that at present any grocer could take out a bottle license. Mr Suiter proposed as an amendment, " That the resolution passed on Thursday last be rescinded,.and {said he thought a delegate would be necessary, although not at present." Mr Oram seconded the amendment. The amendment was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. MB ADAMS' BILL.

The Chairman said Mr Adams' license was much lower than at present. The clerk (Mr Fuller) then read an abstract of Mr Adams' Bill.

A member said that by the abstract which had been read it appeared that the bottle license was the same as the ordinary public license. Mr Suiter said he did not agree to the bottle license. If a bottle license was granted all the grocers would be enabled to sell bottled stuff. He thought it would be very detrimental to the Licensed Victuallers as a' body. The Chairman said he thought the Association had done all iv .their power to keep down the practice of sly grog selling. The bill brought forward by Mr Adams was the best that had ever been brought before Parliament.

Mr Fuller left, and in a short time returned with Mr Adams' Act in full, which he read.

Mr Little proposed, " That this meeting entirely approves of Mr Adams' Bill." Mr Brophy seconded Mr Little's proposition.

Mr Suiter said he thought it would be better to form a committee to consider the Bill and revise it as they thought fit. He thought that would be the best course to adopt. He said that grocers would be able to get beer from the brewers and bottle it themselves, which had been done before. A member said that publicans were looked at as not being a respectable class of tradespeople. They were under police supcrveillance. He thought that if the bottle license were adopted nearly all the publicans would adopt it Mr Burns proposed, " That this meeting be adjourned."

Mr Hamlin seconded. Mr Suiter proposed, " That this meeting be adjourned from day to day." Mr Brophy seconded Mr Suiter's amendment.

[^Ultimately it was decided that the meeting be adjourned until the Chairman decided to call another meeting. Mr Burns proposed, "That a telegram be sent to Mr Adams approving of his bill, with the exception of the bottle licenses.",

Mr Hamlin seconded,

Mr Humphreys said he thought that the asking of a reduction iv the license was undermining the protection the £50 license gave them. Sir G. Grey was going in for moro Working Men's Clubs. Iv a club liquor was sold all night, Jcards were allowed, dances were held, aud the police dare not go near the house. He could not have a dance in his house because the police would drop down upon him directly.

Mr Little said ho thought Working Men's Clubs were a good thing, as they saved many young men from getting into trouble, He did not wish it to go forth to the public as the opinion of the Association. It was the abuse of the privileges of Clubs that he i objected to, and not the Clubs themselves. After a few more remarks the meeting terminated.