PUBLICANS AND SINNERS.

Evening Star, Issue 12069, 15 December 1903, Page 1

PUBLICANS AND SINNERS.

DOE? RFJDUCTIOX REDUCE?

AX EXPERT HAS HIS DOUBTS.

Chancing to meet the other day with a gentleman who knows the licensing trade, we laid out to extract " copy " from him. He had no doubt whatever, he said, that the recent reduction hi the number of licensed houses had produced some effect in Duncdin. It was affecting a number of tradespeople very considerably. What class of tradespeople?— The butchers, the bakers, the confectioners, the drapers, and the furniture people in particular, also the building trade.

Do you suggest that the people are spending less than they did?—l do. But how is that? If they spend less on drink, have they not more to spend in other ways?— That would be so if they did ispend less on drink. But- I question "that. And I think that not so many country folk now come to town with the intention of staying for a holiday. They find the City duller than it was, s:ime of their old houses shut up, and when they do come down to see anything that may be on they just make a flying visit of U and are off again as soon as possible. The (Government ;:re getting the beneiit of all this through the raiiwavst You think th.it as much money is.spent on drink as there used to be?—l"do. Then it follows that the eurviving hotels are doing more business individually?—l don't agree to that. There may be a few instances of houses doing a bigger business: in fact, 1 could mention one or two that are. But to take the trade all round the houses are not taking more money than before the reduction.

And the explanation of this paradox is?— That there is no paradox at all. There is a tremendous amount of sly going on, and an increased private sumption. I believe that the breweries era putting out as much beer as ever, and the holders of -bottle licenses sre doincc a much bigger trade. Is there not as much visible drunkenness in the streets as there was a year ago? Look at our Police Court records from day to day. Has not Mr Graham from the bench spoken about it? And as to the increase or sly grog-selling there ran hardly be a question. Use your eyes and ears as you go about the "town and suburbs at night, and you may find men staggering out of other* places "than hotels with bottles under their arms. On that point we have also the evidence of frequent Police Court prosecutions. Ten o'clock closing encourages this illicit sellina. Men are cleared out of the hotels at 10 p~m., too early, in their view, to go home, and they rally at these other places:. Has the closing of houses caused a marked rise in the value of the remaining hotels?— There has been no illustration to that effect in Uunedin that I know of excepting in the case of_ the Southern Hotel. The present uncertain condition of affairs and the insecurity of tenure would probably prevent any great increase, in selling end bunn" - prices.

Is it. the ease that landlord.,- are giving only short-term leasts, and imposing tions that must force licensees to undulv push business?—Bo far as I know, in some cases landlords are now rather inclined to have tenants at will—that is. at eo much per month. In the case of the Southern Hotel it was only a year's lease that Mr ColLie was offered, although he had conducted the house well. In the North. Island, I belive, the landlords are getting rid of tenants at practically a moment's notice if caught Sunday trading and so forth. That, of course, sounds all risht. But there is another way that it. works. Take this., which I believe to be a fact:—A person paid £I,OOO to go into a hotel, in addition to the rent. A fourth of the term had expired, when the brewer.said : "You are not selling enough beer—l will -ive you a rebate of £750 to go out." What does that mean but that the brewer wants a tenant who will push the sale? Such a state of things cannot be for the general good. The brewer who acts so must le pushing his tenant to do his very utmost to get off the beer, and that may lead to sailing perilously close to law-breaking. I quote the North Island because in Dunedin the system of short leases has not been long in force, and is not yet suliiciently general ito give us a final opinion as to how it works. Speaking generally, I think that it gives a very large arbitrary power to the landlord, that may work for good or for evil, according to the person who wields the power. In Auckland, so far as one c-aa judge, it has had a salutary effect on tie conduct of the houses. The tenant is frightened that if he does not manage his house well he will ~ba turned out

Will not the effect of such a policy be to bring the question of State control of liquor into the region of practical politic/-? —My own view is that unless the trade strictly conforms to the law a great number of people will vote in favor of State control. How that would work nobody can say. This, however, is certain : that State control would add largely to the political power of the Government of the day. With so much patronage in their hands it would make it much more difficult to turn them out at- auv time.