THE CLUB CHARTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12892, 14 June 1905, Page 6

THE CLUB CHARTER.

In connection, with the charter issued to the Commercial Travellers" Club, the lolloping telegram and correspondence will be of interest :--Telegram, July '21, 1903: "Auckland Prohibition League protests against any increase of club charters.K. Fkkxjh, Chairman." Received .same date: "1 am in receipt of your telegram of to-day, protesting against the issue ot any fresh club charters. lamat a loss to* understand what prompted the telegram, as no club charters have been granted since 1894, and k is not proposed to do so at present. —J. G. Ward." Reply. July 22: " Hkkalo reported City members to wait on you for chatter Commercial Travellers' Club. —R.F." From .Sir J. (J. Ward: '! I note the position. The City members had not wailed upon me prior to the receipt of your wire. They did so last night, and I informed them that club charters were hot at present being granted in any part of the colony." At the annual meeting of the Prohibition League in May last, flic following resolution was passed :—"That this meeting begs to express its: surprise and regret that, notwithstanding Sir J. G. Ward's assurance to the contrary, a club charter has been issued to the Auckland Commercial Travellers' Club. It deems such action entirely opposed to the growing desire and jui;t demand of the people to curtail the facilities for procuring intoxicants." The following reply was received:—Wellington, June 9. 1 am iu receipt of your letter of the I7tli ult., covering copy of resolution adopted at a recent meeting of members of your league, relative to the charter issued to the Auckland Commercial Travellers' Club. In reply, 1 have to say that the terms of the resolution hi question are duly noted. You will find, however, on reference to mv telegram of duly 22. 1903. that what 1 stated was that I here was no intention at present of granting club charters in any part of the colony. — faithfully, J. <!. Ward." To that the secretary replied:—"Dear Sir.—ln reply to yours of the 9th inst., I am requested to express the regret of our committee that you failed to note the importance of the objection contained in our resolution of May 17, viz. : ' That yom action in issuing fresh club charters is entirely opposed to the growing desire and just demands of the people to curtail the facilities fo. procuring intoxicants.' Your telegrams of July, 1903, said: ' No club charters have boon granted since 189-!, and it is not proposed to do so at present;' also, 'I informed them that club charters were not at present being granted , in any part of the colony." The colony's ! verdict on the liquor traffic, expressed at the polls during the interval. 1391. together with your replies just quoted, justified our assuming that your attitude would not have been one- of acquicsencc, but the contrary. You* reply is. to us, eminently unsatisfac-tory.--T am, etc., W. J. Macdi-kmoxt. Secretary." ■ i