THE SLY GROG NUISANCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 874, 19 July 1879, Page 2

THE SLY GROG NUISANCE.

[to TfiE BRITO®. J ~.•.: .r Sir—As the above. subject ia - jS&w prominently before the public,' it -bShovea all lovers of justice to; assist’iu stamping oat that abominableiMiisanddL Thenwhy is the Borough Council-sifefit in this matter"? Hawkers, cartefe, carriage and ' slaughter yartiß owners have had to pay their dues; the bur* gesses had to pay their ordinary.ibtes, and special rates for footpaths j-.per-sons on the Government side of the town had at one time to take out their business licenses, and those who neglected to. do so were int reduced,-hto his Worship the Resident Magistrate:;;; and when a -chimney accidentally caught fire, the owner was fiued; v>Wiioh has put the law in motion in all those instances I—The Borougb;: rrCjpiUKu)^'* There are publicans in;this. : towia ! in addition to their rates, had coWibated £4O each on account of their hotel licenses,, to the Bbrdrrghi coffers, and were afterwards compelled to .take out an additional £lO amusemeiit, op daneing license, thereby swelling ixt‘np to £SO per annum. Then why 1 : ddes the Council allow the sly grd'g-yelher, who pays no such fees, to.Jpsep dancing saloon .in full swing, apd ’that long after the hours?' 1 TSre >ni jteO licensee has had to close hia pfyfinses, and to the annoyance"of ms Idd&rs. Why allow'such places at all,' cortwiiry to tlie provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act? What does it all mean ? I say that it is hi) less than obtaing money uhleg false pretences, for the Council to take;one .man’s: £SO and allow that man’s neighbour, to rob him of those rights he: has so purchased, while it is in the power of the Council to prevent such robbery. Neither is it just to the other ratepayers of the Borough, to have a certain portion of the law enforced, and the remainder silent, especially on a question') of revenue. ' ' , ... Now; sir, as there are front ing: v the main thoroughfares of ; this towel; no less- than, twelve; of thoee ■ buildings originally erected for hotels, hut now unlicensed, and the most of tjienj having their outside l imps, signs, 4a, some with billiard tables, and all other paraphernalia common to a publichouse, and their .owners evidently having the appearance, ot driving;as large a trade as their licensed nit including numerous shanties of Heat pretentions, it is, ; therefore, -evident that the Borough Council is being defrauded to the extent of hundreds of pounds, and the puiilicans robbed of that right which really belongs to them. To root out this evil,'Mr -Editor, I would suggest—lst, That Po license for dancing be issued, especially to those places referred, to a£ licenses f. such a purpose would encourage s r grog-selling, and. that the Munioip I Corporation Act be enforced 'to st > dancing. 2nd, That information ; laid, as circumstances would' perm against all persons suspected of s grog-selling, and that, every person’\vh may be found on their premises, ing brewers and spirit merchants Who serve them, be summoned upas witnesses against' them' j such; i witnesses would have then either to tell the truth or perjure themselves ,-®ndas noexpenses would be allowed them, by constant repetition of .the iufprmatiopsj ,they wouii - hu.;

Boon dread the witness-box, and consequently, shun the shanties. Surely the Borough Council would supply the small outlay (if any) required to initiate proceedings, and the police would conduct the eases. Such a man as Ned Wright, G.T., who is so anxious for the cause of Temperance, and who is not afraid to sign his name to a mythical charge against the police and publicans, would, 1 am sure, willingly lend a: hand to forwatd the good work ; and then perhaps he coilld soon have, not only One of his brethren, charged with the offence, but a great tunny of them up as witnesses. I Wonder what Would Mr Wright do if by virtue of his “ miners right” he could obtain only half a man's ground, while a person without a “ right” held a golden claim next to him 1 Ned would be silent, he would not move, not even dream of shifting his pegs on a Sunday, or outside his working hours; or perhaps of shifting them at all. Oh dear, no ; immaculate Edward !—I am, dec., Fair Play. Kltmara, 15th July, 1879.

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