LIQUOR AT THE EXHIBITION

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12592, 7 September 1906, Page 6

LIQUOR AT THE EXHIBITION

Although tho result of the application to tho Licensing Committee for conditional licenses for the Exhibition was practically a foregone conclusion, some disappointment will be felt at the committee's decision. The case in favour of granting tho applications was ably presented, duo stress being laid on the point that this is not a matter which affects Christchurch only. As a matter of fact it will bo of little oonsequenco to local residents, who, living close to the Exhibition, will not be co likely to spend tho whole day thero, as will people cominig from a distance and ha?in*s only a few day's to spare. Tho Exhibition is not a local affair, ite success w ill depend in part upon the attendance cf visitors from all parts of the colony and from .beyond these shores, and tho proposal to enable patrons of the restaurant to procure liquor with their meals was merely intended, as was pointed out, to meet the legitimate requirements of the guests of the colony during the Exhibition,

and to make such provision for visitors ne they are accustomed to in their own, localities. It was emphatically a question that had to (bo looked at from a colonial and not from a narrow local standpoint. This, however, was more than tho elected members of the Licensing Committee could bring themselves to do. The Caßtaet's action in leaving the question of a license f% the Exhibition to be decided by the

Committee was no doubt quite correct, but it imposed the greater responsibility upon the Committee to deal with it looking at it from the broad standpoint that their action would affect many .ihousinda living outeide thrt boumds of their jurisdiction. The Committee not only ignored this aspect of the case, but also the fact that Christchurch went strongly against prohibition at the local option poll in December last. Their own election, which was piirely on the ten o'clock closing ticket, should not hare blinded them to the fact that they had no mandate from the e'ectore to impose their prohibitionist views upon a great colonial undertaking. Their decision yeetorday was not the result of dispassionate and judicial consideration, but of preconceived prejudice. It convicts them of displaying no regard for the wante of those who may differ from them, and indicates the lengths to which the extremists among the prohibitioniate would go if they were able to exercise more power than has already been entrusted to them. The episode will have a useful effect if it opens the ! public's eyes to the danger of handing over the administration of public affairs to those who cannot be trusted to behave with moderation.