THE GOTHENBURG SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10751, 12 May 1898, Page 6

THE GOTHENBURG SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA.

SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION AT RENMARK. PROPOSED EXTENSION TO MILDURA Statu or municipal control of the liquor traffic on the lines of the Gothenburg system lias for long been a dream lof temper; ance reformers, and it is satisfactory to know that a scheme of this kind lias been adopted with a fair amount of success in Australia, In the irrigation settlement of Renmark, in South Australia, there is an hotel conducted by a committee of management elected by the ratepayers, and the profits, instead of passing into the pockets of a monopolist frivute proprietor, are applied to the general welfare of the townspeople. The hotel was established about 15 months ago, and so far the results have been highly gratifying. A special "clause was inserted in the South Australian .Li-' censing Act to allow of the establishment of municipal hotels, and a code of regulations for management was accordingly adopted and put into operation by the local authorities. The committee consists of five members, who must bo approved landholders resident in the Renmark irrigation colony. Persons' connected with any business for the sale of intoxicating drinks, or . who havo been guilty of any offence against the licensing law, aro rendered ineligible for election, whilo tho voting qualification is registration upon the Assembly electoral roll for six months prior to the taking of a ballot.

The Renmark Hotel, as the establishment under notice is called, is a fair-sized country house, and is fully adequate to the requirements of the township. It is under the immediate control of a manager, who is paid a regular salary, and who lias, therefore, no inducement whatever to offend against the provisions of the Licensing Act. In fact, as may be supposed, instead of permitting any breach of the law, the manager is only too anxious to keep well within its requirements, and, as a servant of 'the corporation, lie is naturally anxious to .close promptly at tho statutory time, and hiving nothing to gain by Sunday trading he has no incentive to it ; on the contrary, it might safely be assumed that he would flatly refuse to give his time to it, The first year's profits from the business amounted to between £400 and £500, and the money was devoted to paying off a mortgage on the building. In future, however, when the place is free of debt the proceeds will' be applied to beautifying the township—'" for the promotion or encouragement," the regulations state, "of literature, science or art, or charitable or benevolent purposes"—or will be handed over to the Renmark Irrigation Trust for the relief of the ratepayers from taxation. • The committee, which for the first year consisted of the Rev. H. H. Wyllie and Messrs. E. R. Olorenshaw, jam manufacturer; G. W. Reid,' chemist; J. W. Clark, storekeeper; and C. J. Aslnvell, journalist, claim that they have done considerable moral'good to the community. In the early days,' before the hotel was established, there was a great deal of sly grog-selling in the place; but this has been' checked altogether, and it is found that on the whole the proper regulation of the trade lias tended:to reduce the amount of drinking. It is considered that the system adopted is the best that can possibly ; be devised for a place like'Renmark, and the committee strongly advise its adoption in new . townships and in other places where sly. grog-selling is carried on. The management conduct their business, in the:same way as any ordinary hotelkeeper, buying beer, wine, and spirits, etc., from the brewers and merchants. . As large profits are not a necessary consideration, only tho best liquors are kept in stock —a state of affairs which will be appreciated by those with experience of bush townships; ; . The Renmark experiment derives additional interest from the fact that an effort is being made to establish a similar institution in Mildura, which, whilst being ostensibly •; a • "temperance • ■ township," within whose boundaries no hotel for.the sale of intoxicating liquors can be established, is now over-run with so-called clubs, s- It is thought by some people in the Victorian settlement that it would be advisable in the interests of the community that the profits made from drinking should go to improve the district, and a poll is shortly to be taken on the subject. 1 Mildura is not far from Renmark, and ; those who have interested themselves in the matter have no doubt that there will be opportunity of achieving results .: similar. to those obtained ■* in South Australia. ,;.y Prom • what has ; taken place .during'.the-, last 12 months it is evident that the example is one that may weU : be Mowed -• Mr.' Holder, Measurer for couth Australia, who is an ardent temperance reformer, takes great interest in

the Renmark enterprise, and is not only watching its development with the keenest interest, but is giving if tnty engagement.