COMPENSATION TO PUBLICANS.

Evening Star, Issue 8506, 4 May 1891, Page 3

COMPENSATION TO PUBLICANS.

TO THU KDITOB. Sib, —There is a great ontory just now about compensation to publicans on the loss of their licensee. It is surely worth while to remember that the changes in commerce and society are incessantly closing publichouses, and no notice is taken. For instance, twenty years ago, when I lived in ' New South Wales, travellers in the Blue Mountains to Bathurst, etc.wentbyCobbs coach. The road was lined with licensed public-houses. About that time the Government decided to open the railway to the west, and the work was begun. There were many prophecies that It would prove impossible; but patience and skill overcame enormous difficulties, and at lakt the line through the Blue Mountains to Bathurst was opened. What was the result ? All the public-houses lost their trade, for; there was no traffic on the road. And with the exception of one or two which were turned into sanatorinms for visitors from Sydney, the houses were closed. Not a word was said about compensating the poor licensees. And yet, if ever there was a good case for compensation, surely it was this By no fault of their own, but by the action of the Government carrying out the will of the country, their business was completely destroyed and their properties rendered worthless. Ought they to have been bought out? I trow not. No one, not even one of them selves, suggested such a thing. It was “ good government ” to open that railway—- “ the greatest good to the greatest number —and every advance of society involves the loss of thoee engaged in antiquated systems of living. The coarse, rough system of the public-house has lasted a long while, but it is hardly good enough to last for ever. A great clamor is being made as to the suffering of the large number of persons engaged in the trade. Are our hearts quite hardened by long familiarity to the wail of anguish which arises from the vast army of sufferers from the trade ?—I am, etc., Li Caversham, May 2.