Licensing Elections.

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

Licensing Elections.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The startling statements that have been made as reasons for tho early closing 'V of hotels have really frightened me, for I am a stranger in Auckland, and of a very quiet and reserved temperament, and it ;I really grieves me and makes my heart sad ':'■!'• to think it is my lot to have to live in ono of the drunken cities in the world, for it would appear that the chief reason given %m for the closing of hotel bars at ten o'clock solely is, that by keeping open until twelve a large number of men get drunk. Ido not know ono city in the world that I closes its hotels at ten o'clock; but I have been in States where no drink in the way of '- spirits is sold, and I shall relate a little experience in going through one of theso: !. I was travelling by train, and as it neared a State where no drink could be obtained, everybody on board kept saying, "Come, i let us have a smile (equivalent to your ; nobbier), as after the next two stations w§ cannot get anything to drink for a day."- I And I can assure you, by the time wf "k arrived at the last station, everybody had smiled too often. Not, there was a wise | man on board, and he said, " Ypur throats j will be parched all day to-morrow." Tho law prevents you from buying drink in thfe part of the world, but it does not prevent you from buying sufficient to last yon through the spiritless State. Men are- V grown-up boys, and the whisky burned in their pockets. The bare knowledge that it could not be bought for lore or money gave them the addi- . tional feeiing of enjoying the prohibited pionnivo. ond alas for poor humanity ! they ; : 1 .- : mU i. : ..-. .!;«;> v:a gborf: for them. I was the only esoeptiwi, and why . because I am.*! oiviiisui and know wnat. ia good for me. I V believe' the majority of the people of Auck- I land are like myself, but a few good cife us '' would say to us, " You do not know what is A good for you, and we will therefore close the* 9 hotel-bare and put you all to bed at ten 9 o'clock, like so many naughty children, V to prevent you becoming like the loafirs jM and drunkards who frequent public-houses' :M at night." Is there a man foolish onough to think that theso few poor and degraded , specimens of humanity will be reclaiinrf 1 from their easy but disgiaceful life by the 7 closing of hotel bars at ten o'clock—that . ' being the chief reason given by the 7 "Herald"for so doing? We have heard a f^eat deal of ono side of tho case ; now for , another side. Are there so many drunkards M in Auckland in comparison to the number I of men who, on a cold and rainy winter's night, may bo prevented from getting a drink in a respectable hotel! Have you takeninto consideration what other resources __ may be open to them I While the hotel bars '-iff are left open until twelve, people will be no 1 , better nor worso than thoy are at pregent, and although they are not as perfect as wa I could wish them to be, you cannot make men virtuous by insisting on an early closing movement. Before you close th» '• 9 hotel bars think well what you aro doing, and pause ore it is too late. For by tlmt act I prophecy you will bring rnih Msm hundreds of your sisters and disgrace to , your brothers, physically and morally. Do not shut your eyes to tho fact A that your young men and the ' Strangers who visit this city will not go _ to bed quietly at ten. They will be forcw - 1 to go to places, whore they can get drink . andcompanionship. For the first thoy will have to pay exorbitantly, and the company I loavo to your imagination ; but you well know it will bo such as will spoil all good and religious feelings that we take for V;1 granted are in tho breasts of the majority • of tho young men of this city. Think well- '_ of the proposed measure, and be prepared ~ .'" to bear the sin that you yourselves havo forced on tho young men of Auckland.— < Yours, &c, -'• j/gffl: A Well-wisher of Hcmanikv' M ;