Licensing Election.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4291, 22 February 1884, Page 4

Licensing Election.

(To the EditJbr.) Sir,—The result of the contest just con-"' eluded evidences tho desitfe of this com-' munity to have the liquor tiXaffic conducted^ within the four corners of \tho Licensing Act. Fully one-half the voteis recorded on" the L.V.A.'s ticket wero rocSsaded out ofpersonal feelings to the gontlemenSchp.havmg accepted the position of candidates/Vtaed^ their utmost endeavour to be returneela ( good many of whom, had they known the'> precise position they have been logically | placed, in would never haves tood as opposing the temperance platform on this occasion" ■ The temperance party's contention for | 10 o'clock closing last year was considered extreme. A year's hard plodding educa- ! tion has convinced the citizens that it i 3 * highly desirable to have such an extreme - measure. By the way, tho Licensing Act says, section 154: "Licensed premises' must bo closed on Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to Monday morning at 6 a.m On ' other nights from 10 p.m. till 6 a.m." next 11 morning except when extension of time is granted," so that all along we should have < had tho hotels closed nt 10 o'clock on Satur- -1 days. You hazard tho opinion that the ' temperance victory may be a curse to the "~~~ city, as it may drive tho drinking into sly grog shanties and infamous dons, carried on under cover of tobacconists' shops H s think you will admit that that is a ide issue; admittedly such evils now 1 exist, under al2 o'clock law. Tho citizens should, through tho City Council, inquiro how is it these abominations exist ? If they licenses billiard tables, and these are turned -- s into gambling hells, their licenses should be withdrawn. Tho result of this election shows that the people are just beginning to realise the fact that they, not the brewers have the supervision of this traffic. Let the public attention be fairly aroused to the advantages tho Act confers upon them, and the free-handed publican will soon find to his costthathecannotgetalongvery wellout. "; side the hwif he pleases. Take for instance' :' Sunday closing. The common evasion now is '■''•, to have communication from the urinal to the back door of tho public house. Troops of people pass through these conveniences returning more or less under the influence of drink, If the immediate residents would A under section 81, object to the renewal of licenses because conditions 3, 4, and 5 had been broken.no Bench would, on satisfactory ' '': evidence, renew such licenses. The people have nobly shown their wishes on the mattersthathavebeensubmittedtothem If < as unitedly they will move, both police and magistracy will be necessitated to do their duty. Auckland has in the most unmistakeable manner spoken; it will be well for all in. terested to so use their weeks of grace be- ' tween now and the annual licensing meeting as that, by the fulfilment of their voluntarily assumed conditions, they may expect the renewal the law permits. Tbfire V is rejoicing in hundreds of homos in this city over the prospect of the future. I will conclude this rather lengthy letter with the ; ■"■ hope that all classes of the community will cordially unite to realise the Hon. W E Gladstone's definition of the law, making it easy to do right, hard to do wrong.-! tin, 'i '% etc -> Southern Cross. '-'■■'_