THE LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11210, 6 March 1897, Page 4

THE LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Br the appearance of a notice regarding the licensing committee election in one of the Canterbury districts we are reminded that such elections must take place all over the colony before the present month expires. It has been suggested in several districts that the elections should be allowed to lapse, so that the administration of the law might devolve upon the stipendiary magistrates, who are ex officio members of committee, and who are, in the event of failure to elect the full eix members required, empowered to dis-

■ ■ ■ j charge all the functions of the committees for three years. It is, by the \ way,,rather peculiar to find return-ing-oflicer originating such a proposal, tempting a local body, on the score of paltry economy, to “ arrange” things so, and further expressing the opinion that “both sides” were willing to take this course. It betrays a curious conception of popular control to find a Government official and a local governing body, as it were, laying their heads together in an attempt to “save the rates ” to the extent of £l5O or so, at the expense of a complete'derogation of electoral rights deliberately conferred by Act of Parliament upon the people for the due regulation of the traffic in intoxicating liquors. The calm' assumption that all the voters belong • to one “ side ” or another—the publican or prohibitionist—is also, extraordinarily refreshing. We venture to think that the public of ! Christchurch, who have hitherto manifested a deep interest in the* control of the drink traffic, will not allow themselves to be treated in this' way. Although the local option vote has determined that the number of licenses shall remain undisturbed, and although the Legislature has so, de-. fined the duties of Licensing Committees as to make them almost exclusively Courts of Record rather than judicial bodies, yet the decorous conduct of the liquor traffic in anydistrict would be affected by the comj plexion of the committee elected. It: may be granted that a general attitude of indifference is invited by the’ j resolution of a large section of the Temperance Party ta take no part in the election of Licensing Committees. If, however, an important body of earnest but mistaken electors, in a fit of pique over a temporary reverse, choose to derogate their.power of control, that is no reason why other electors should commit a similar act of folly. The great; bulk of the electors, belonging as. they do to neither extreme “ side,” ought to take steps to have their opinions represented on the Licensing Committee. If the people by tbeir apathy allow the pending elections to lapse, the Legislature may consider, itself justified in taking out of their hands the power which . they now enjoy of not only determining the licensing policy of their districts, but also of choosing the administrators of the law. We look upon it as treason to the democracy even to suggest such a thing.