THE CLUB CLAUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 228, 23 September 1904, Page 4

THE CLUB CLAUSE.

In discussing our liquor legislation it is extremely difficult to set personal prejudices entirely on one side; and it is safe to say that no clause of the much-debated Licensing Bill has evoked such strong personal feeling as the section which makes all restrictions as to liquor-selling and gambling apply to clubs as well as hotels. When it became known that the House, by a vote of 48 to 21, had decided to include clubs under the provisions of the Licensing Actj, a large number of people, both inside and outside the House, appear to have expressed themselves very indignantly thereon. We must frankly admit that we have failed to find any just reason for this indignation. The question is not as to the advisability of passing certain laws to regulate the liquor traffic, but as to the justice of applying them universally when they are passed. Those who object to the "club" clause apparently hold that with respect to our licensing laws a club ought to be treated differently from a public house. But this seems to us a pure assumption, unsupported by any logical argument. It is absurd to say that the club is the clubman's house, and that he ought to be allowed to get drink there at any hour he pleases. A man does not buy drink in his own house. If he wants It, he has to buy it at an hotel before closing hours. Similarly, if members of a club want to drink after the legal hour for closing bars, let them buy their liquor before closing time. Nobody will object if they choose to take wine or whisky in bottle to their bedrooms or smoking-rooms. The outcry against the extension of this clause to clubs strikes us as a most objectionable attempt to create a class distinction of a peculiarly offensive kind. The ordinary working man, who cannot afford such luxuries as clubs, must not be allowed to buy liquor after ten o'clock at night. Why should the clubman be treated differently? The fact that a club requires a charter or license is an admission that it is for the purposes of this law a public institution, and it is both just and logical to apply the law unflinchingly to every such institution, irrespective of its traditions or its social status.

The same sort of comment may be made upon the angry protests heard in the House against the suppression of gambling in clubs. It seems that to the

frequenter of clubs the terra gambling has a special significance which applies only to places where he does not happen to play. If the law prevents the average frequenter of the humble "pub" from gambling on the premises, why should men who happen to be wealthier, or better dressed, be permitted to pb'y bridge or billards for money in any institution that requires to be recognised and licensed by law? As a matter of fact, the outcry against the "club' clause is entirely the outcome of a senti ment of .selfishness which does very little credit to those who have voiced it so loudly. Possibly the whole principle of legal interference with liquor-selling and gambling is wrong; but th.it, as we have said, is not the point now at issue. tf the law requires ten o'clock closing and the suppression of gambling, let the law be administered impartially, without fear or favour. It is a little difficult to disentangle the conflicting motives that have conspired to effect this result; for the clubmen are vehemently accusing the liquor party of selfishness and petty spite for insisting that the law shall. Be applied to them as well as to hotels. We do not presume to interpret the division list on the "club" clause; but we are convinced that the conclusion the House then reached is the only decision that could possiuly find favour in the eyes of honest administrators in a democratic country where all men are equal before the law.

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from nine a.m. this day: "Strong winds from between west and south-west and south, glass rise, expect cold night."

The total births registered ifi the four centres of population during the monthof | August amount to 530, against 506 in* July, an increase of 24. The deaths in August were 205, a decrease of 25 on thenumber in July. Of the total deaths males contributed 115, and females SO. Thirty-six of the deaths were of ch'ldran under five years of age, being 17.56 per cent, of the whole number. Twenty-six of these were under one year of age. There were' 65 deaths of persons of 65 years and up"wards. The births Mere as follows: Auckland 118, Birkenhead 2, Devonport 13, Newmarket 5, Grey Lynn 18, Parnell 7; against the followingj deaths: Auckland 37, Birkenhead nil, | Devonport 7, Newmarket 1, Grey Lynn 8, Parnell 2. The following li ths are nlso recorded: Wellington 115, Thames Iβ, New Plymouth 27, Napier 18, Wanganui 31, North 26. The following deaths are also stated: Wellington 48, Thames 4, New Plymouth 2. Napier 6, Wanganni 6, Palmerston North 10.

It is "notified in last night's Gazette that the time for receiving candidates' applications to be admitted to examination for Junior national scholarships and for free places in secondary schools, to be held in December, 1804, has been extended. Applications must reach the office of the Inspector-Gen-eral of Schools by October 31st next.

A landslip at French's farm, Akaroa, 'dlled a resident named William Gidlens, 70 years of age. Messrs. W. and'G. TurnbulTs steam- > c Aotea, which had been aground near the Patea bar for some weeks, has broken up. The Aotea was built in Scotland in 1902. The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the Agent-General, dated London, the 21st insl.: —"The present wool sales are satisfactory, and there is a great competition amongst buyers for fine merino, prices for which have advanced slightly. The demand for inferion merino is not so good. For saJl descriptions of crossored* th« market is firm. Prices have an upward tendency, and future prospects are favourable." On Wednesday night at the meeting of the Te Aroha Borough Council, Messrs Steuart and Fenn, electrical engineers, stated in their report that Mr. Steuart had visited Te Aroha, and laid out the work in connection with lighting the borough by electricity. Plans were being prepared for street wiring and main line wiring. On the 26th inst. Mr. Steuart would leave for London to purchase the materials required. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Farmer, He:herington, and Eowe, were appointed to wait on the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Paeroa, to jdiscuss the terms on which the Bank would advance the loan, which had already been sanctioned by the ratepayers. It is expected that the plant will be in thorough working order within the next six or seven months.

There were 31 selections of 8676 acres altogether made last month at the Crown Lands Office. These were made uip as (follows*:— CXR-P., 54,47; L.1.P., 3092; and cash, 137.

At about 1.50 p.m. to-day the City Fire Brigade turned out in response to a false alarm of fire, caused by the burning of some tar on the railway property, in Mechanics' Bay.

Some eighteen residents of Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, petitioned vhe Jtu-nister asiiing that portion of the gum reserve existing on tflocit VIU, Kerikeri, S.JJ., be lilted, so that it could be available for settlement. Hanger AicKay reported to the Crown Lands Board favourably on the lifting, and ihat the land be cut up into small sections of abouit 20 acres each. The Bay of Islands County Council also recommended ■this course. lit was decided by the Board to-day that the Governor be advised that the portion of the Ranghane Kauri Gum Keserve facing Kerikeri Inlet was no longer required for the purpose of gum digging, and to declare that such land was no longer subjeat to the principal Act, and so be dealt with by the Land Board under Section 3. of "The Kauri Gum Amendment Act, 1902."

A grand concert of vocal and instrumental music is to be given in St. James' Hall, Wellington-street, on Wednesday evening nexit in aid of St. Jam.es' organ fund. The programme will include items by Misses Eilingham, Montgomery and Lambourne, and Messrs Ed. Farley, Arthur Ford, Wilfred Manning, Percy Lee, A. McElwain, and N. McLean. The concert will be under the musical direction of Mr Walter Impett, organist of St. James' Church. The full programme will appear in to-flnorrosv's "Star."

The licensee of, the Waitemata Hotel, Mr. John Endean, has applied to the Harbour Board for the lease of the section at the ang'e of Queen and Quay-streets, which is in the opinion of most people one of he finest bui'ding sites in the city. The lease will be for 50 years, and it is the intention of Mr. Endean to put up a great private hotel, with shipping offices underneath. The whole building will eonfcain over 100 rooms, and will probably cost £16,000. Desperate bargains. No wonder the public rush those lovely tailor-made suits* They outclass anything ever shown.—Ernest Moore, 240, Que'en-st. —Ad.

At the Beehive to-morrow a fine show of ladies' linen and crash costumes in all colours and some very new styles. 16/6 each.—George Court, The Beehive, Karangahape road. —Ad.

Corsets! Corsets! Corsets! in all shapes and at all prices. Corsets at 2/11, corsets at 3/11, corsets at 4/11. The Beehiveis the best place in Auckland to get corsets* \Ve guarantee to fit you.—George Court, x"he Beehive, Karangahape road.—Ad.

Children's frocks in white Jap. silk, with lovely lace trimmings, in all sizes; 6/6 each at The Beehive, Karangahape road.—Ad.

Seeing is believing. Jti3t imagine a real stylish worsted suit for 29/6 — Ernest Moore, 240. Queen-st. —Ad.

British and American Shoe Store (opposite Public Library). — James Adnms and Co. Ladies' and gpntlemeti's high grade American footwear. Just Innded—(Ad.)

Pillow cases. 9|d; pillow cases, 9Jd; pillow cases, Did. At The Beehive, Karangahape road.—Ad.

21/ Tailor-made vicuna suits, quilted and padded, usual price 35/. —Ernest Moore, 240, Queen-st. —Ad.

Oil baize oilcloth, 4|d; pillows, 1/9; \-npok pillows, 1/9; kapok pillows, 1/9; full-size kapok mattress, 19/11; carpet squares, 25/, 3yds by 3yds. At The Beehive, Karangahape road. —-Ad.

British and American Shoe Store (opposite Public Library). —James \dams and Co. Ladies' and gentlemen's high grade American footwear. Just landed,—(Ad.)

Tussore silk, 27 inches wide, 1/1J per yard; Tussore silks, 27 inches wide, 1/1 J per yard. At The Beehive, Ka.ranga.hape road.—Ad.

Positively Appalling.—39/6 Fox's serge tailor-made suits, s'-ld elsewhere 55/. —Ernest Moore. 240, Queenst.—Ad.

Kid gloves. 1/; kid gloves, Is; kid gloves, 1/; kid gloves, 1/6, kid gloves. 1/6; kid gloves, 1/6. Black, beaver and fawn suede, 1/5 per pair; fancy rabats, 1/; fancy rabats. 1/; fancy lace ties, 1/. At The Beehive, karangahape road.—Ad.

45/.—The knobbiest tailor-madj iult in Auckland, equal to 90/ goods.— Ernest Mooie. 240, Queen-st. —Ad.

The best house in Auckland to buy Japs is The Beehive, Karangahape road. White Jap silks, 9fd and llfd; cream Jap silk, llfd; Jap silk in all colours, llfd; a white silk, lyd wide, 1/11 per yard. George Court's Jap silk bazaar to-morrow. The Beehive, Karangahape road.—Ad.

Booming. Booming.—Wonderful sale men's tailor-made suits. 21/, 25/. 33/, 45/. —Ernest Moore, 240, Queen-st.— Ad.

Stair carpets, 3Jd; fancy bedside mats, 2/4 each; oilcloths. 2 yards wide, llsd square yard; lace curtains, 2000 pairs to select from; lace curtains, 1/11, lace curtains, 2/11; lace curtains, 3/11; lace curtains, 4/11.—At The Beehive, Karangaliape road.—Ad.