THE LICENSING ACT.

Evening Star, Issue 6032, 12 July 1882, Page 3

THE LICENSING ACT.

I TO THE EDITOR. g IBf ._I hope that both tho teetotallers and those who desire to see the millions yearly squandered in drink used for some good purpose will accept " Freedom's " challenge and muster in force in the Garrison Hall tonight. Let us have both sides fully heard, and of the result no one will, I fancy, be ashamed.—l am, etc., Citizen. Dunedin, July 12. TO TIIK KDITOR. Sir,—The .Mayor has consented to call a public meeting to consider the proposed amendments in the Licensing Act. The promoters of the meeting passed resolutions to the effect that no alteration should be made, and the object of calling the meeting is to get that opinion endorsed by the public. There is one part of this Act in particular that I think is monstrously unjust, viz., the portion of it which makes it compulsory for magistrates to endorse a license for trivial offences. If three offences be committed within five years of the class for which endorsement is provided, it is made absolute, when the licensee applies for his renew*!, for the Licensing Committee to refuse it. It is mandatory ; the Committer have no discretionary power. Let us see how this of the Act is operating. Shortly after it came into force, it will be recollected, a number of leading summoned for keeping their entrance doors open en Sundays. My firm's easo was taken as a test one, and we gained it. Now, although this was to test a matter of principle—no offence being alleged—had we been convicted under the clause under which we were charged, the magistrate would have been compelled to endorse our licenses. That would have been endorsement number one. Again, at the recent licensing meeting the question arose as to whether we have more than one baron our premises within tho meaning of the new Act. Mr Weldon courteously promised to try the case in afriendly way to sso if we aro infringing the Act. Now, if we should be convicted the magistrate, although he may fine us in a nominal sum, must endorse the license. Again, no offence is alleged, but only a matter of principle te be settled. So if that test case is decided against us, and if we had lost the previous one, that would bo endorsement number two. If during the next five years we should, either by ourselves or through one of our numerous servants, or through the malice of some pcr»on, commit|one other trifling offence, and the license be endorsed a third time, when we went vip for our renowal the Licensing Committee would have to refuse it. They could not help themselves, and we should be ruined. I should like to ask tho promoters of this meeting if they do not think tho Act wants amending in this particular. This is a very important matter to all connected with hotel property, particularly landlords, mortgagees, shareholders in building societies who hold hotel property so largely as securities, and all connected financially with hotels.—l am, etc., James Watson. Dunedin, July 12.