PUBLICANS' LICENSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 445, 17 April 1865, Page 5

PUBLICANS' LICENSE.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. Sjb,—From your liberal remarks on this subject, I am lc d to solicit a corner for these few lines. I hope that the dayß of exclusion in the spirit trad 9 are gone by even in Auckland. Why grant a spirit license to a few favourites, so that tb«y may easily amass a fortune, and at the same time exclude others equally worthy ? I ask does the Licensing Act contemplate such m individual selection? I think not. Let any imptcftU. peitfdn dmy gJßncj aif fflp com-

roodious and every way suitable buildings crrcted in the various parts of this rapidly growing city for hotels—say, at an averago expenuo cf £1500 each, and consider what, a stimulus such enterprises gives to tile trade of the place, and how many have reaped a bonefit thereby. Agaiu, why in. this parfiat manner enhance the value of one property to tho prcjudico of another? I say, then, let every respectable applicant obtain the license. liut, by all means, let every spirit dealer and hotel- ! keeper be under ctrict protective regulations, such as keeping strictly shut 011 Sundays; closing oa week days at 10 o'clock ; admitting only proper company ; adulteration of liquor to be severely punished. Hotvever, I believe that tho general competition in the trade, in conjunction with tho strict surveilance of those in power, together with tlx? danger of withdrawal of license, will much tend to insure regularity and good order. I have full confidence that our worthy J.P.'s will not bo deterred from impartiality in the performance of their duty in this case, by tho tampering by petition of tho self-wise and would-be-dictatora in such matters. I'lie rigid righteous is a tool, TTie rigid wiso another. 15unN3. I havo, &"c., IsfPAUTIALITV.

PUBLICAN'S LICENSES. To tho Editor of tho New Zealand Herat,d. ! Sir, —Tho thanks of tho public are duo to the free and independent eolouinns of tho Ni;w Zealand llf. KALI), for its able advocacy of freo trade 111 tho sale of fpirituons liquors, a system which tho less independent journals of this city dared not advocate, howuver much the common sonso and judgment of their conductors might lend them to wish do so. Tho Hkkai.l) dares to givo utterance to what it thinks and feels to be right, although, as in this case, it may in doing so, bring tho condemnation of a party upon it, and it is thisfearless advocacy of right t hut has brought it, a comparatively neiv journal, into the position of tho leading paper of the province. Your arguments that with tho incrgaso of publichouses drunkenness will bo decrea;ed are, I believe, unanswerable. The same system now sought to bo carried out by a f"\v—tho prevention of drunkenness by the prohibition of licenses has, wherever it has been sought to bo carried, whether in the count}' of

Maine itsolf, or on tho Australian diggings or elsewh ro, been found not only a failure, but productivo of immense harm In Maine county, where the prohibition of the sale of spirits was altogether forbidden, t!u're were hundreds of dry stoics wlieio a person asking to see tho " striped pig" could obtain as much liquor as ho ehoso to pay for, an i tho Government sacrificed its revenue— for what ? In tho early days of tho Australian diggings tho Government, with an insano view to prevent crime, refused to grant a single license for the sale of spirits on tho gold-field?. What was the consequence ? The trade which would liavo been carried on by decent and respectable men in deccnt and respectable lioubcs, under the immediate supervision of the police, fell into tho hands of low characters, and was carried on in plates of which for a long time tho polico could obtain 110 inkling, and which, when broken up in one place, was recommenced in another. None tho less spirits wero sold, but I will venture to say, and I speak adrisedly that one-half tho delirium tremens, one-half tho evil produced by drink upon tho Australian diggings for tho first two years of their commencement was caused by this action of the Government. Where good and unadulterated spirits would have been sold in licensed houses, the veriest lirewater and poisonous liquors were retailed in tho sly grop shops. Those places became the safo resorts of the worst characters, for they were unknown to and of course unvisited by the police. The same will be found to be the case in Auckland if morality is intended to be forced clown the people's throats by legal enactments. The H)th century is too lato an epoch for any set of men, however well meaning their intentions, to beullowed to say, •' because we don't want public hotises you shan't have them. We will call in tho prohibitory aid of the law to make you think as we do." A man, becauso he is a .T.P. and a teetotaller, has no right to uso his position to coerce his fellow citizens into following his example, and a <T P. who is not a teetotaller, and who can aflord to have his own cellar stocked with wines and spirits by the cask and ease, has no right to prevent his poorer brother who lives from hand to mouth from profiting by obtaining a cheaper and a better article than he could do if by granting fewer licenses a monopoly whs granted to certain individuals. The more licenses are granted the more accommodation will hotels endeavour to provide for their customers, and the less will they be, as too many of them are now, mere places for the retailing of spirits over the bar. T am, sir, A Moderate Bbinkei!. Auckland, April 11-, 1865. To the Editor of the New Zealakd Herald. Pir, — I have observed in this morning's papers a statement brought before the Provincial Council by the Provincial '.Treasurer, during the consideration of the estimates for the Mount j£dcn Stockade, wherein ! it is stated by him that there existed an amount of j insubordination among the prisoners, and that it was ' necessary to make an enquiry into the management j of the stockade; and that the citizens were in iinmi-

nont danger of 200 convicts being let loose over the country. The Treasurer further states that when he visited tho stockade (does ho mean when he was the bearer of Mr. Fljnn's dismissal at the hour of halfpast 8 o'clock. p.m.*r) he found but a few revolvers and carbines, and no ammunition, lie also states that some time ago ono-half the convicts were not at work at once. .Now sir, in answer to the above, however the Government may deem lit to make a supervision ill the stockade, which has nothing to do with the statement h.id before the House by the Provincial Treasurer, I most positively state that there has been no insubordination whatever amongst the prisoners, except v.-hat occurred to Mr. Dyke, and in that case it was Mr. Dyke's own fault that it occurred. The Treasurer some short time ago alarmed tho Provincial Council And the citizens about a mutiny in the stockade. stating that the prisoners wore breaking out of the stockade. On that occasion he brought to the stockado ten special constables, and what did he see ? ITe saw tho prisoners orderly, and nothing irregular _g"ing on. On the next occasion he brought up eighteen constables of tho Armed Police—for what 'i This time the prisoners were all asleep. Now with referenco to the convicts breaking out, I dcclaro such a thought nevor entered into thc-ir lioads—and as to tho statement about the arms, that also was incorrect. There were twelve, carbines and ton revolvers in the gaol at the time, and an abundance of ammunition. As to tho charge that half tho convicts were not at work, this is really too bad ; when I was at the stockado tho number in the quarry was never less than from 100 to 110, or more, nxclumvo of all other works in the establishment. Since 1 have ccased to bo Governor of tho Stockade, there havo not been moro than filty prisoners at work up to tho 10th instant, and that out of over 200 prisoners. Trusting sir, you will excuse my intrusion on your valuable time, and givo tho above insertion in your next number, you will much oblige Your obedient servant, J". FLYN'N. April 12th, 18G5.