The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, JUNE 11 1891.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6171, 11 June 1891, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, JUNE 11 1891.

Whethee it is due to the energy and eeal of the teetotal party, or is the effect of a great wave of public opinion, certain it is that there has been throughout the colony a great shaking up of dry bones on the field operated upon by the Licensing Committees. No doubt, also, the Triennial Licensing Committees Act has had muoh to do with the increased attention that these Committees have lately been bestowing on the business entrusted to them. Previously to this year the Committees merely performed their duties in a perfunctory way, for the simple reason that, holding office for twelve months, they did not feel justified in making reforms which their successors might decline to continue or maintain. The difference in tho position occupied by the Committee, caused by the change from an annual to a triennial election, was seen clearly enough by the attitude assumed by the Napier Licensing Bench yesterday. The Bench had determined to grant no extension of license beyond eleven o'clock, and in making known this resolution to the licensed victuallers iuformed them that they could, if they chos. to do so, ignore the order and keep their houses open till midnight. But, added the chairman, "If joudo so ignore the orders of the Committee in this respect, no extension of license will be grafted next year, and the houses will be closed at ten o'clock." Now, no such exercise of authority could have been displayed under the annual system of election, for the publicans would have kept open till twelve as formerly, and at the next election would have taken care to put in a more acommodating Committee. The new closing hour will come into force on July Ist, and though it will probably take the public some little time to get accustomed to tho change, and may cause some grumbling, the alteration will be beneficial in many respects. That portion of the chairman's address which referred to the want of attention shown to the commonest laws relating to sanitation was welltimed, and much needed, and his remarks were none too severe on tho neglect of the police to bring this matter before the notioe of the Committee ; in fact, it was noticeable that, in dealing with each application for a renewal of license, the chairman laid aside the police report, and relied on the Committee's own notes ou the condition of the several houses. Although the chairman stated that it was the intention of the Committee to inspect the houses before each quarterly meeting, we make no doubt that after what fell from the Bench the police will in the future render that duty less necessary. It seemed to come as a surprise to many of the licensed victuallers that it was an offence of a serious nature to supply liquor to persons against whom prohibition orders ha_ been issued. The idea appeared to prevail that it would be sufficient excuse for such offence if it could be pleaded that the publican and his servants were ignora»4 of the appearance of the prohibited person. The chairman humorously observed that it was one of those cases in which the law insisted upon a knowledge that it might be quite impossible to obtain In a small place like this, however, it is quite within tbe reach of evsry one to know by right as well as by name every one against whom a prohibition order has been taken out. The law does not confine itself to publicans, but makes it a punishable offence for any one to supply, or cause to be supplied, any intoxicating liquor to a prohibited person The most pleasing feature of the annual meeting yesterday was the compliment paid by the Committee to the licensed victuallers on the condition of the interiors of their houses, there being only one hotel in the town that was condemned. In respect of this house the Committee adjourned the consideration of the application with the view of allowing time for the erection of a new building 1 .