The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, and The Echo. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 1879.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2993, 20 November 1879, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News, and The Echo.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 1879.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong tha needs resistance, For the future iv the distance, And the eood that we can

The Government announced last night that the licensing question would not be dealt with this session, and the two bills now before the House will iv all probability be shelved. The chief attempts at licensing reform have emanated in the past from those who are opposed to the liquor traffic,

but the bill introduced by Mr Adams was brought down in the interests of licensed victuallers, and the licensed victuallers have also laid their views ou tho subject before Parliament and tho people in a series of recommendations adopted by the delegates ot various Licensed Victuallers' Associations, and published in our Monday's issue. It is but right that these should

receive attention. The recommendations in various respects shew a disposition to treat the question not solely from a publican's point of view, but in a fair and moderate spirit. The principle of local option, for example, is conceded so long as individuals :ire protected from damage by provision for fair compensation. As applied to existing houses wo are convinced that it would bo unjust to attempt to close hotels —except for being misconducted—upon any other conditions. The licensed victuallers also urge very good proposals for the punishment of adulteration, one of the greatest curses of the traffic. The exemplary penalties suggested, accompanied by seizure of the liquor, would have a deterrent effect. The reduction of hotel licenses involves no principle, it is a mere matter of expediency, and there is very great difference of opinion among licensed victuallers on the subject. Apart from the question of local revenue, wo believe a high rate of fee is calculated to maintain tho general standard of the houses, and prevent the growth of a large number of inferior liquor saloons, which arc the worst evil that can befal any community. In the public interest, we believe Parliament should firmly resist any tendency of that kind. There is a very great inconsistency in the view which the conference took ot their own position iv respect to licence fees and that of clubs. The extreme fee for an nil-night license, proposed by the licensed victuallers, is £45, but for clubs they propose a license foe of £50 and a penalty of £5 for selling any liquor to be taken from the premises. This proposition on the face of it will not stand for a moment. If clubs are to bo licensed at all they must undoubtedly bo accorded the same privileges for their money as are granted hotel-keepers. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for tho gander. The act of paying a licensee fee would at once remove the bar to indiscriminate salo of liquor, and make it at tho discretion of the committee of a club ; and selling to members at a low rate for removal from the premises, would probably be one of tho first steps taken by many clubs. When the question of compelling clubs to pay a license fee is discussed, this should be taken into consideration, for its inherent justice is certain to secure its passing into law simultaneously with tho imposition of any licensing fee. Various useful recommendations arc made by the conference to facilitate business in the way of transfer of license etc., which, as coming from those Jpracticallyjengaged in the trade, arc worthy of consideration. There are, however, two propositions which must ba strenuously resisted— the granting of all uight licenses and openiug on Sunday. The facilities for travellers arriving during the niglit and staying in the house are ample cnougli already, and to legalise a class of house in which local residents may sit and drink all night, or to extend tho encouragement to Sunday drunkenness, is aretro«rcsiion which we trust will never be sanctioned by the Legislature of this colony. We are aware that nil-night licenses exist iv Duucdin, aud also grocers' licenses, but we regard both as unmitigated evils, and certainly not iv the interests of the publican who desires to conduct _ his busiues3 honestly and quietly. It is a pity that the Confcrcuco placed among their recommendations proposals of this kind ; and there can be no doubt as to the duty of the people if any attempt is made to force them into law. We do not believe that, excluding the trade, they would meet with the approval of one man in a thousand.