THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8284, 17 June 1890, Page 6

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

THE AMALGAMATION OF LICENSING* WARDS. A meeting of hotelkeepers and others connected with the liquor trade was held last evening in the Victoria Hotel. There was a fair attendance, and Mr. R. F. Luks 'occupied the chair. Mr. Duke read the circular convening the meeting, which explained that its object was to consider what steps should be taken to amalgamate the six licensing districts in Auckland into one. The Chairman stated that before any resolutions were passed, he would like to know where the funds for the carrying out of any measures were to come from. It was stated that Mr. Duke had received several promises of money, but had not yet made them public. Mr. Duke said that when a resolution was passed guaranteeing the expenses already incurred, he would tell them what promises of support he had had. Mr. Lcks said that he did not approve of the manner in which the matter had been started. He asked the question to be gone into in an open manner. He was not in favour of the merging of the six wards, but thought that they would be more likely to have success if they confined their efforts towards the three central wards. Mr. Mahoney concurred in this and pointed out that there was no representatives from the outside wards present. Mr. A. L. Myers thought that the fact of their absence was no true sign of lack of interest in the matter. He thought that the parties concerned in the outside wards should be waited upon. If they declined to coalesce with the city men, then the latter could go on by themselves. Mr. MAHONEY said that he thought the outside wards had had sufficient notice and that no further time should be lost in waiting for them. The matter was simply that it was better for the trade to have only one election to contest instead of three, and he was of opinion that the opposition would see the benefit of this also. Mr. Duke said that in consequence of a very strong expression of opinion at a previous meeting, he had ■waited upon those who had to bear a large proportion of the expenses of the elections, namely, the brewers, and had received promises of money from Messrs. Jagger, Ehrenfried, Seccornbe, and Watson and Murray. The cent of the carrying out of the measures was, he estimated, about £80, and the promise i subscriptions were about £65. One or two others had promised, and he thought t advisable to get a petition printed and ready for distribution. Mr. Mahonky said he did not wish to question Mr. Duke's motives in what he had done, but it would have been better if he had called a meeting, and consulted the trade -first. Mr. Luks said that he thought the movement was a correct one, but he objected strongly to the publicans having to be led by some electioneering agent like a lot of children. Let them do their own business. Mr. Duke said he had been urged to take up the matter by the publicans, and by Mr. lAiks personally. He had been acting all along in conjunction with those most interested —the brewers. Mr. Ryan said that if the steps already taken had not been quite as all wished, they were in the right direction. Let them all pull together and they would make good progress. Mr. Myers endorsed these remarks, and said that as the brewers had given promises, and the publicans had expressed their sympathy with the objects aimed at, the latter should now decide in what proportion they would assist in the matter. Mr. Ryan moved, " That it is advisable to have the six licensing wards amalgamated, provided that the consent of the interested parties be obtained." Mr. Buck seconded. Mr. Foley proposed, as an amendment-, " That it is advisable to amalgamate only the wards of City East, City North, City South, and Ponsonby.' Mr. Mahonky seconded. Mr. Ryan then withdrew the original proposition, and on Mr. Foley's motion being nut it was carried with only one dissentient. Mr. A. L. Myers, who was appointed treasurer m connection with the movement, stated that he thought it advisable that a nxed subscription should be paid by all botelkeepers, thouph of course the bulk of expenses should bo borne by the brewers as most largely interested. Mr. J. S. Duke was chosen secretary, and Messrs. Mahoney, Ryan, and Luks the committee. lb was agreed that the work of collecting funds be at once started. "