THE LICENSING TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13080, 16 September 1904, Page 3

THE LICENSING TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Tho lettor.s of "Sprightly" and Wm. Thomson in this morning's Times are interesting reading. I am glad that "Sprightly" has called attention to the evils of tho bottlo license, and hope that ho may continuo vigorously in the same strain. Ho is hardly fair to tho prohibitionists, however. They are not, and nover have been, "silent 011 this matter." Again and again they have endeavoured to arouso public sentiment on tho subject; sometimes with success. Last year a petition for the abolition of this evil was largely signed in Dunedin, and was presented to Parliament. Now that "Sprightly" and others who, liko him, aro unawaro of tho efforts of the prohibitionists have awakened, let me assure him and them that wo welcome them as fellow-workers, and shall bo glad to seo them working as energetically for tho abolition of tho bottle licenso ai they think wo should, and that the sooner our occupation as temperanco reformers is gone, because we liavo succeeded, tho better wo shall like it.

Mr Thomson is a different sort altogether. He has become angry, and says things which I would lie glad if I could hope arp unworthy of him. Of course, ho does not expect us to take him seriously, but 110 cannot object if I give his statements a little attention. His misquotations aro so evident that I will do no moro than mention them; but how about this: "Mr A. S. Adams, tho Rev. l'\. Isilt, and Mr Nicholls combino to ruin a deserving hotelkeeper. They cast hiiu and his family penniless 011 tho street," etc? 0110 is almost tempted to finish the quotation, but it is better not to do' so.

Now, what does this mean? Hero is a gravo charge, but vague. Will Mr Thomson pleaso desoond to particulars? JUojv docs it happen that wo never heard of this combination before? Perhaps Mr Thomson means less than he says, imd I shall, with your permission, ondcavour to show what has been tried and done. X take a typical case. An honest, respectable man, proved to bo 60 l)y tho certificate of 10 householders and a magistrate, desires to obtain a liccnso to sell liquor by retail in a house which ho possesses. Ho lodges his application; and eloquent counsel on bia behalf informs tho Licensing Committee that this liou6o is centrally situated, convenient for boarders, and needs the lioonso to supply the '.wants of tho boarders. Ho never says, and, of course, counsel would never hint, that tho licenso is wanted so that the houso may be usod chiefly for tho sale of drink. Oh, no! Ho needs it to enable him to supply his boarders, and, of courso, their friends. Tho houso is stated to oontain so many rooms, fire-escapes, etc., etc!., for tho convenienco and safety of boarders. The licenso is granted, Bv-and-by© the olectors of tho district decide, rightly or wrongly, that no licenra shall bo granted in that district, and a renewal is refused. Tho houso remains—purified, it may be, from somo objcctionablo features; but it is there, still his; the accommodation is untouched, and tho boarders aro still in need of tho accommodation. Now, dce3 Mr Thomson say that anything worse than this is ever done, is over attempted? Tho licensee % may, -if ho chooses, refuse to remain 111 the houso after tho license is gone, thus proving that his object in getting it was not what lie stated. He may refuse to accommodato tho boarders, bcer.use ho can no longer obtain tho profit he derived from tho sale oE liquor; but can ho truthfully say that he is " cast penniless on tho street"? Does not Mr Thomson protest top ' much?—l am, etc.; An Old CAiirAiGNF.it. Dunedin, September 13.