THE KAWAKAWA LICENSING COMMITTEE AND SINGLE MEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6966, 15 March 1884, Page 6

THE KAWAKAWA LICENSING COMMITTEE AND SINGLE MEN.

We quote the following from the repott of *.he'proceedings before the Kawakawa Licensinj»*Oourt:—

Mr. J. H. Greenway, clerk, read the appli cation for a transfer of license from G. 11. White, Pacific Hotel, Russell, to G. I. l'«nter.

Constable Coughlan said Mr. Panter was a single man, and strange to say, the greater portion of the hotelkeepera in the licensing district were single men; but outside opinion was greatly averse to single men holding licenses, and this was natural enough too. It was impossible almost for a nun to look after his house aud comfort of Visitors without a wife. He was compelled state I;he feeling existing outside. Mr. Panter stated he had a respectable liiirrind woman as housekeeper, aud her huibaud was shortly coming to the hotel Xo complaint had ever beeu made againat tbe house, and during the month he had been in the place everything had been

decently conducted. Under the circumstances, if the committee would transfer the liconso to him, ho would get married as soon as possible. Mr. Moody fully endorsed Constable Coughlan's comments ro married and single men holding publicans' lioeuscs. From his own experience, ho knew some of the JIOUBO9 kept by singlo men were nothing more than driuKing shops ; thoy did not care about giving accommodation—it was drink, drink. Another application from George White, of Jnnction Hotol, Kawakawa, transfer to David Learmpnth, was then put in, and unfortunately tho transferee in this case was also a single man, and bo it understood Mr. Lcarmouth made no propositions of getting married should his license bo granted. Mr. Brower said ho had no disrespeot for eithor applicants or proposed successors, but ho concurred with Mr. Moody. Ho know a house kopt in Kawakawa by 1 a single man which was worse than a drinking den ; it was an immoral house. 1 lie did not go round the corners either to tell tho committoe or anybody else that that samo house had all'octed his own family, and ho would therefore object to any license being granted to single men, as they were not fit to hold a license. It was deoidod to take tho vote by ballot, and after this was done, tho Chairman, Mr. Marshall, said that the oominittee liad unanimously come to the conclusion not to grant tho prosent transfers of licenses to single men. Some demur hore arose, Messrs. Panter and Learmouth seeming to become considerably crestfallen. Constable CoughUn (through them) asked that a temporary licenso bo grantod for three months, to enable thom to msko arrangements suitable to landlords, otherwise the houses would bavo to be shut up.

The Chairman said they could not grant such an application. It had been decided not to let single men hold a license, and thoy would havo to put up with the consequences.