LICENSING AND SPORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 3

LICENSING AND SPORT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— On several occasions I have listened with the utmost attention to that charming and patiiotic song called “ Rule Britannia, 55 bat I may say that recent events have transformed the compoaer 5 a meaning into ridicule. Being one of those individuals rather partial to the good old English national sports, I was induced last .Saturday by the Clerk of the Weather to visit Lancaster Park with a friend of mine from France. Feeling rather cold, we determined to make a call on the good old “ Bacchus, 55 but, to my utter astonishment, I was surprised to find that meat noble and impartial body of men called the Sydenham Licensing Commissioners had expelled the good old god from those pleasure grounds. Tea, Sir ? said a lady.. Such a question aroused the indignation of my foreign friend, who exclaimed Libertd Brittani'iue! Now, Sir, being aware of the legality of their action, T should like to ask what human or manly feeling led those worthy Commissioners to such a course ? Why should the. people of. New Zealand be deprived by any class of their reasonable wants ? lam thoroughly convinced that such proceedings will not promote the welfare of our beautiful islands, and the sooner our legislators remodel the licensing and other Acts, the batter it will be for New Zealand.—l am, &c., A THORN.