Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 929, 18 September 1869, Page 10

SLY GORG-SELLING.

' ' iV A' deputatioii fe'om" the.Licensed Victuallers' Association waited on' His Honour the Superintendent on Tuesday, at eleven o'clock a.m., itsobject being to' ""'point out the necessity of measures being adopted to put a stop/ to sly grog-selling. The deputation consisted of Messrs Walter (President), Mcc, Bayley, Wain, Thompson, Watson, Haydon, and Bannatyne, and was introduced by Mr W. H. Reynolds, M.P.C. and M.H.R. Mr Waiter explained that the Licensed Victuallers suffered, as did also the revenue, from the widely spread practice of sly grog- selling which prevailed at present, and which waa carried on almost with impunity, in consequence of the great difficulty experienced in obtaining convictions for the offence. The Licensed Victuallers had contributed to the revenue from the Ist April, 1864, to the 30th June, 1869, a sum of L 60,296 for their licenses, exclusive of .billiard licenses, and he thought it only fair, that their request should meet , with consideration, and that they should be protected, if on no other ground than that of the large amount of revenue they. paid. His Honour the Superintendent said that he had, whilst in Wellington, done as he had promised, all in his power to induce the General Government to notice the matter. He had seen the members of the Executive on the subject, and had had an interview with Mr Vogel about it, but during the session it could not be attentively entered into. He would, however, write to him again with reference to it. He would suggest that an officer should be appointed in connection with the two Governments, whose duty it should be to inspect distilleries and licenses. ' Mr Walter was of opinion that the work would be too much for one officer. It might be well for the Provincial Government to take the matter in hand, as they received the revenues from publicans' licenses, and made laws for their guidance, which laws, however, the sly grogsellers broke with impunity. In point of fact there was really no restriction on sly grog-selling at all. His Honour the Superintendent had no doubt that Mr Vogel fully felt the force of the representations which had been made to him on the subject, and believed that a movement would be made with rejtard to it. Mr Walter asked if His Honour had any objection to the introduction of a private bill, to be framed and introduced next session, having in view the putting a stop to sly grog-selling. His Honour the Sotbrintendent asked what the object of the bill might be. Mr Walter replied, a Bill to amend the Licensing Ordinance. His Honour the Superintendent said he could not say until he knew the exact purport of the bill. The Government was bound to protect the Licensed Victuallers, and ho did not think any bill having that object would be objected to. Mr Walter thought that if the bottle license fee were increased it might have the desired effect. His Honour the Superintendent recommended the Association to put the amendments they thought desirable on paper ; he would bring them under the notice of the Executive. Mr Walter said they would bo very glad to do so. Mr Mcc said that such was their intention, but that the publicans did not kuow how His Honour felt with regard to the bottle licenses, and whether lie would bring in such a bill next Session. Ho thought the best plan would bo to do away with tho bottle liconsos altogother. One oE those licenses cost only LlO, and the holdors sold nobblors just as publicans did. Storekeepers sold crocerics and other goods, and thus attracted pooplo to thoir stores, and it wiw not fair that they should bo permitted to compote with publicans, who had. forgo expenses and heavy liconsoft to pay. His Honour tho Superintendent saul that tho Association was nn organised body, and that if thoy would put their wishes on paper, thoro was no doubt thoy would bo taken into consideration. Mr Waltku said tho Govornmont might obtain much valuablo information from tho roport of tho Solcct Committee on tho subject. IVIr Branigan's ovidonoo dealt imtoh with it. His Honour tbo Supkuintrndknt remarked that Mr Branigan'a opinion ■corned to be that tho only way to do away with sly grog-soiling, was to do ftway with the bottle licenses. Mr Haydoh said that Mr Strode was not in favour of granling bottle Uconeea, Mr Walter pointed out that Mr Harris, who had had eonsidorablo experience iv tho Police Court, was of opinion that so long at bottlo licenses wore granted, p o long would there be ily grogmn\Uno

* r Hia Honour tib6%rp^iti»TJ!NDEiOT said th^tr^e^&QTewambni 11 would no u&lbt' adopt some, meanV whereby , to p*ut a stop*' to" it, and would appoint an 1 officer for that Bpeoial purpose. : t ' , .. Mr Wain, thought tthatt t two officers would be necessary to obtain convictions, as the evidence of one witness . was not sufficient. < ; His Honour the Superintendent said that that was under the present ordinance. < ' MrHAYDoN said that the ordinance might be altered in that respect. " . The deputation agreed, to, His Honour's suggestion to state their .wishes in writing, and, after, thanking him, withdrew.