The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1877.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 98, 26 September 1877, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1877.

A WELLHTGTOiir Temperance Society has addressed a memorial to the Licensing Bench of the Wellington District, praying that, for the present, no new licenses to public houses be granted. This proceed4ng ism: conformity with the spirit ■of tW£bcai : (yption Bill-, and if this and other petitions of like- import could at all times coiitrbl the" operations of Licensing' Courts, there would be no necessity for Mr Eox's measure. The chief difference between this spontaneous expression : of popular will, and that provided for m the Local Option Bill is, that, the one may atafy tike grafting?" o£ licensees, the other must. As thVlaw at present stands, it is very likely that the refusal of a court to' grant licenses would fery soon- be 1 called • m q«6BtiDTi- if the Court couM shew no other reason 1 for such* refusal than a' demonstration of popular will. But supposing the discretionary power of- tne Beiicli to be absolute, there would" still be no certainty as to whether # petition would have the effect intended, or just the reverse. The petition-presented m Wellington by a deputation of clergy and laity, and ? signed by nearly 3,000 adults, the 'Bench would scarcely receive, much less act UDpn. On, the other hand, \\re have' intelligence from Christchuren 3 of the Licensing Commissioners, refusing all the applications for licenses, with one exception, because, as they alleged) ; it was pro- : bable sdnie alteration would'shortly ■be madfr'in tlie laSy relating to'liquor traffic. Here we have two v«ry opposite cases, ea"ch of which is typical of maiiy' that wotiid" occii^ if the permissive system were practised without' being legalised^ lia the 6ne case, the Kesitlent Magistrate cHobe itd ignore^ the will of the people until ■ he woivld'Be compelled? by laiy to act : upon it lii^the' other* the- conimissioherswere" so 1 : eager; fo : acj/ih ac•cordance with ar possible expression of popular will that they actually anticipated the law.-Infthe^HG-yse, during* the discussion of tfie* Local Option Bill, Mr Bees credited the open Tfers with a great deal 6f J the drtinkehness tiat - exists. He ' believes, ifoafa thi^ vice would be reduced by three-fourths if- the bars were donet aWay ; with; !

Doubtless iUe practice of " nipping " and ".slioutiiig " among young clerks : and tradesmen may be ericouraged by the open bars, and this practice, m many instances, ledds hy certain Bteps to the inveterate toping. But we a"re persuaded that the tijaentless of the liquor traffic does not conduce m the degree 5 Mr Bees supposes to dissipated habits. , It is not theirorst phases of dissipa'tiffri that are seen m the bar', sfad unless the retail of intoxicating liquor's tfrere' otherwise controlled, the shutting of tbe'bars would be likely to fesult m d vast accession to the list of gamblers and gambling hells. The shreds of hu^ inanity who habitually seat themselves* m the bar, with their pots of beer*, and spend the hours until turn^ ing out time comes,' are m all congesiencfe to* be pitied. Yet they are not so" pitiable? as are those who penetrate to the" inner shrine of BaccKus, and wha Spefid the entire night -r-not only m dririking-^but m stak^ i&g property, hearts-ease, dnd their hopes for this; world and the riext, m the feverish game of chance; And this goes on to an alarming extent, not only m every, city, but almost m; every town ; and there is little^ Soiibt that it would- go 1 , qfri to a' 1 miicji nXore' fearful extent if tjie public-house bars were* to be done away withy and every drinker would have to* visit the more secluided parlour* for his beverag-tf. w , . „