HOTELS AND TOBACCONISTS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 72, 26 November 1887, Page 2

HOTELS AND TOBACCONISTS.

The petition which is at present before the House, having with it the object of prohibiting ihe sale of tobacco, cigars, or cigarettes by anyone without paying a heavy license fee, is not likely to be given much consideration to by the House. The petition appears to be a deliberate attempt on the part of a few of the large tobacconists to monopolise the trade, to stop small tobacconists, the storekeepers, and the publicans from trading in these articles. The petitioners argue that they are unable to cope with this class of traders—especially against the publican who has many illegitimate wavs of disposing of cigarettes and cigars to the detriment of the legitimate trader. There is no doubt a good deal of truth in this con-

tention, but we can see no earthly reason why a publican should not be allowed to supply his customers with a cigar or a packet of cigarettes should they be preferred to a drink. As a matter of fact we think it is a step in the right direction, as much more liquof would be consumed if such were not the case. Then there is also the objection that every business is allowed to dispose of tobacco, and thus again injuring the trade. This is simply absurd, We see the fruiterer selling clothing, the grocer, stationery, the draper, toys, and soon. Why then should the tobacconist by specially protected by legislature ? Surely everyone has a perfect right to conduct their business as they please without being asked to pay a license fee for any particular part of their stoeft which they may wish to offer for sale. As well might the storekeepers petition to restrict bakers to selling bread. If the petition were given effect to those who who could afford to pay the fee would have a very unjust advantage over those who could not,