THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8740, 12 March 1894, Page 3

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Seeing that the near approach of the licensing elections is rapidly shortening the period iv which opportune discussion of the questions to be decided _ possible, I hope you will allow mc space in which to express the opinions of one who writes simply a*, "one of the crowd."

During the last year or two we have heard a good deal about the majority ruling-, we have been exhorted to " trust the people," aud " self reliance" has not been overlooked. Now if the majority of tbe people vote the prohibition ticket, they wiii simply be making the plain admission that they cannot trust themselves—with a pint, or say a cask, of beer. For my part I decline to make any such degrading admission, either on my own behalf or on that of my fellow counti ymen. Prohibitionists of course are at liberty to speak for themselves, but I resent the unspeakable insult to the rest of us' which their claims involve. The prohibitionist clergyman would appear to be one who loudly proclaims his ineffi-

ciency; failing to secure a hearing, not to mention seeing his counsels prevail, would fain secure by force that which his eloquence is uuabls to effect. Nor is it surprising to note that those who are most anxious to convert New Zealand into a parson-ridden country belong to that section of the ministry which is most ready to speak with contempt of those countries which submit to be prie3t-ridden. The prohibition party make no secret of the fact that they aim at stopping the importation, manufacture and sale of all intoxicating liquors. At present they are only endeavouring to closeall hotels. If thisweredone the " poor man " cry would at once be raised. Why, it would be asked, should the poor man be unable to buy a pint when the rich man can obtaiu a gallon ? and endeavours would be made, and not unsuccessfully, to enlist the aid of all those whose business had already been destroyed. If, however, prohibition is carried, as the outcome of that spirit of puling cowardice which oozes out of every page of the organ devoted to its advocacy, it may possibly have one good result in directing the attention of many who now help to swell the rauks of the majority to the fact that minorities have rights. While it may possibly have been gleaned from the foregoing that I am not a prohibitionist, I crust that brewers will not fall into the mistake of supposing that I am championing their cause, because I am filled with a deadly resentment against what is known as " the trade." I may be wrong, and if so I'm in good company, but I blame publicans primarily for very few of the abuses which prevail in connection with the liquor trade. It is easy, as Becky Sharp observed, to be virtuous on five thousand a year, aud the licensee who is the unencumbered freeholder of his hotel is usually well enough off to be able to conduct a legitimate business, apart from the fact that he has large interests at stake. But the publican who rents a tied house, it may be from a brewery, i 3 in a different position. In any case I think ik will not be disputed that brewers could have done much that they have left undone, and vice versa ; from this point of view is may be said that the brewer is the parent of the prohibitionist just as the weasel is the outcome of the rabbit. And I do not thank the brewer for the prohibitionist. A new terror has been added to existence in the shape of your professional prohibitionist, and for my part I could have got along without him. If brewers had done nothing else to rouse my ire, their conduct in connection with the recent Parliamentary elections was more than enough to deprive them of any claim to my sympathy. I say this without any reference to the side of politics which they supported, and though in one or two instances their choice of a candidate astonished mc, I both recognise aud respect the right of any man to support what side of politics he likes, but there are things at which I draw the line, and that line the brewers have overstepped. I venture to think that I am one of a large majority who are heartily sick of brewer and prohibitionist. Unlike the gentleman who could be happy with either were t'other dear charmer away we rather assert that we could not hate the one so much loathed we not t'other more. If we could everlastingly flatten out one without gratifying the other we would do it, but as this is impossible I suggest that we do what in us lies to suppress them both. In other words let us elect committees pledged to keep both publicans and prohibitionists iv their place. Hotels if they exist at all must exist for the benefit of the public, which body may for my purpose be divided into those who are obliged to travels and those who wish to drink. Any hotel, no matter where situated, that supplies clean sheets, decent meals, aud good liquor should be allowed to keep open, though the prohibitionists howl' their loudest; any hotel omitting to supply these requisites should be closed, brewers notwithstanding. lam assuming, of course, that the electors vote the intermediate ticket.

If you can spare the space I would like to offer a few observations on the new Licensing Act, but at present I have said enough.— Yours, &c , C. Lewis.