THE LICENSING LAWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8603, 9 June 1908, Page 7

THE LICENSING LAWS.

ANONYMOUS LETTER WRITERS. Per Preaa Association. * HOKITIKA, Juno 9. The Westland Licensing Committee granted all renewals throughout the district, also a new-- application for a license in town which had lapsed two years ago. An application for another new license for a first-class hotel, _in course of construction, was adjourned till the 29th to enable an absent member of the committee to be present. The chairman declined to adjudicate on this case in fconsequene of anonymous letters in the local, press imputing t) him and other members of the committee a personal interest in the license In announcing the decision Mr. Acheson, S.M., commented very severely on the newspapers in publishing correpondenc,e of this nature, while the whole matter was sub judice, and intimated that unless the names of the writers of these letters were divulged, libel proceedings would probably be comenced against the papers. NAPIER, June 9. At the annual meeting of the Napier Licensing Committee yesterday, Inspector Macdonell, in his general report, stated he was pleased to be able to state that, taken as a whole, the licensed houses in this district had been, comparatively speaking, well conducted during the year, especially in the town. Arrests for drunkenness showed an increase but some of the offenders had been arrested more than once. One regrettable fact still very noticeable, especially on" Saturday nights, was that a number of youths were to be seen more or less under th> influence of drink, some of them carrying bottles of liquor in their pockets. Eigh-ty-five prohibition orders were granted during the year as against 57 the year before. Fifty prosecutions for breaches of such orders took place lastfyear, a considerable increase on the previous year. There appeared to be some unprincipled persons in the community who laid themselves out to supply unfortunates with liquor, some for the sake of a drink themselves. Others did it for pay.. The S.M., speaking on behalf of the committee, expressed the opinion that licensees should take steps to exclude persons of low character from their premises, and pointed out that licensees were not bound to supply such persons with liquor. GORE, June 9. The following correspondence has passed between the Mataura United Temperance Council and the Mayor of Gore: — May, 28, 1908. To his Worship the Mayor of Gore.

"1 have been instructed by the Executive of the Mataura United Temperance Council to ask you if you would give an expression of opinion as to the effect of no-license in the boroughs of Gore. To assist you iu so doing the council suggests the following questions for your consideration and answer : —(1) Has the carrying of no-license had a detrimental effect on the value of property in Gore?; (2) What is the stato of public order?; (3) Has the moral tone of the community improved ? ; (4) Do you consider the restoration of licenses would be in the best interests of the community?; (5) Can you recommend the adoption of no-license by other electorates?. E. C. Smith, secretary, United Temperance Counci. May. 28, 1908. To E. C. Smith, secretary. United Temperance Council: —• "I have to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 28th inst., and I am answering the questions in the order they are asked : —(1) The town has been more prosperous not because of no-license, but simply owing to the general prosperity that lias existed and the closing of" the licensed houses has in no way retarded or is likely to aifect the prosperity of. the town ; (2 and 3) I cannot express any definite opinion upon these questions as I have no records before me and would refer you to the very materially and the restoration of police reports. At the same time til ere is less apparent durnker.ucss ' and, generally speaking, 1 believe the town is in a very satisfactory condition; (4) There is no probability of licenses being restored and such would be a retrograde movement because while no-license does not stop drunkenness it assists very, materially, and the restoration of licenses would be a great disaster to the whole community ; (5) Yes, I believe it is in the best interests of the people generally. Arch. A. Mac Gibbons, Mayor of Gore. Having read the questions submitted to his Worship the Mayor and his answers thereto, we are prepared to corroborate his answers as being substantially correct. — (Signed)—R .J. Christie, Adam Spedin, John 13. Paterson ,J. M. Barron, William Baker, Chas. J. Burows, D. Robertson. E. C. Smith, J. MacGibbon, Councillors of Gore.