TRADE STILL QUIET

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 6

TRADE STILL QUIET

EFFECTS OF ANTI-SHOUTING. POLICE ARRESTS AS USUAL. AVith the eflßuxion of time it becomes apparent that the curiosity which drew many people into the public-houses to witness the effects of the new "antishouting" regulation on the first day is now waning, and tbat the effect of the. law has been to put the brake on trade. The patron of the licensed honise as a tulc is not of an oyster-like disposition in the matter of bis small change, and consequently there is not an entbusiaetic rush to take advantage of the prerogative of joining the exclusive order of Jimmy Woodsers- The man who has teen in the habit of talking gee-gees, war, or scandal over his refreshment naturally looks upon the solo performance with melancholy, and be lias not reached that state of courage when be can ask his erstwhile associates to accept the privilege of having one at their own expense. So trade is still quiet. The man and the maid who earn bread and butter by drawing corks and coaxing up the bitter are having the time of their lives. In one or two bars at certain timee of the day this essentially high-speed occupation has become positively reposeful, al- | though on the other hand when trade gets brisker at night there is atonement to be made in the direction of brain reeling arithmetical calculations for every group of customers which enters.

Trade is quiet, and yet there is no sign of a decrease in drunkenness. According to police reports the number of arrests for drunkenness are keeping well up to the average, but the opinion is expressed that it is altogether too early to attempt to gauge the effects of the new regulations on the habits of the public. The "regular customers" at the police station are expected to arrive in their usual semi-comatose state, for the inveterate and unregenerate beer-drinker will slake his thirst whether he joins in a shouting ring or carries squarc-rigger3 lon to vacant allotments. But it is believed tbat it will not be long before the public settles down to the new order of tilings, and wben a marked improvement will be noticeable in tbe habits of the bar patron. When that comes about, iv tbe course of two or three weeks, obj served an official of police this morning, .the hotelkeepcrs will find trade fairly good. Many a man who lutherto would !cot enter a public-house because of the i penalty of having to drink two or three wben he only wanted one would now beIccflie a regular customer, co_rpe_»ating Ito some extent for the loss of trade which wosild result from the cessation lof unnecessary and excessive drinking. However, tbe new regulation had had no l effect on the Police Court records yet. | but the diminution in drinking had not been amongst tlie topers, but amongst | tbe more respectable customers, who bad I not yet reconciled themselves to the neworder of things, and declined to drink in i solitude.