LOCAL OPTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1342, 18 August 1877, Page 16

LOCAL OPTION.

Jo».

The public meeting cf gentlemen interested in the liquor trade, convened by tbe President (Mr S. Isaacs) of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, for the purpose of discussing the Hon. Mr Fox's Local Option Bill, and held in the Fire Brigade Station on the 14th, was attended by about 35 persons. In opening the proceedings, the President explained that the meeting had not been called earlier because the Association thought the Bill so inconsistent, so haish, so uujust, and so arbitrary that it would never pass through Parliament, and they were of that opinion still. But at the same iime chey thought the matter should be discussed, and the measure taken into consideration to show that they did not agree w»th it in any manner, shape, or form. It was a very unjust measure, because any 20 girls of 18 years of age — any 20 seamstresses or domestic servants — would have the power of harassing and annoying a. most re-spectably-conducted hotel in Dunedin, or any other town in the Colony. According to Mr Fox's Bill, any 20 females 18 years old, or the same number of men above the age of 21, who have resided in a place for six months, would have the power of setting in motion the whole of ihe machinery for taking votes whether any public houss should be licensed or not. To him this appeared very unjust — very unfair, because, in the event of auy person losing his license, it would take fifty persors to siga a requisition to again set the law in motion, in order to get the license again granted, and then at the expiration of three years. Tha license only taken away could not be again got for three years ; whereas, if persons protesting failed at one time, they could keep on harassing the licensee from year to year. He regarded the Bill as a regular class measure : it aimed at stopping the working men from getting their pint of beer, and did not interfere with gentlemen who might have their.wine or champagne with their friends at home. The measure wa3 drafted against working men, and therefore class legislation was the worst form of legislation. Resolutions bearing on the subject would be brought before the meeting, and he trusted that the matter would be discussed in a temperate manner, although the measure warranted harsh language being indulged in. Mr Isaacs having called the attention of the meeting to a speech delivered by the Mayor of Wellington— which he described as the best speech he had ever read — went onito say that the question of liquor traffic had been for muny years before the public, but, like the social evil, they had been unable to cope with it. According to the latest temperance papers, drunkenness was on the increase, but they had not gone the right way in dealing with this question. The proper way was to educate the young to do without sensual pleasures. He trusted that any speaker who got on the platform would be listened to with that attention the subject deserved, and would have every fairness shown to him. They should so discuss the matter that they would be heard in Wellington when the Bill was being read and considered in Committee.

Mr Fox's Bill was then read.

Mr Watson then moved the follo-ving resolution :—": — " That thiß meeting is of, opinion thy,t the provisions of the Hon. Mr Fox'a Local Option Bill are unfair, unjust, and, if they become law, would be found to be unworkable." Mr James Marshall had much pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr Watson had so pointed out the injustice and unfairness of the Bill that it was unnecessary for hir^ to say anything further on the subject.

Mr Bastings said that enthusiasts could just as well be intoxicated by the pump as by the wine cask.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Mr Golder proposed the following resolution :—": — " That in the opinion of this meeting the Hon. Mr Fox's Local Option Bill, if it becomes law, would tend to close respectable hotels and increase sly grog-selling, with all its attendant evils." He had no doubt that Mr Stout, who was the father of this Bill, would regard them as being bo many persons who were crying out that their trade was in danger. He strongly contended that the hotel-keepers had vested interests in their licenses, and said that if the privileges weTe taken away, not only would the property of the publicans be deteriorated, but also that of the owners of the premises.

Mr Finch had much pleasure it* seconding the motion. _He fully agreed with what Mr Golder had said in moving it. He sympathised strongly with this trade, and as a merchant he was as much interested as the license holders. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr Joel proposed the next resolution, which was as follows :— " That this meeting is of opinion that no licensing Bill is just which provides for the sudden withdrawal of licenses from hotels by popular vote (irrespective of the conduct of the licensees), without providing for due compensation." After the very temperate manner which Mr Watson had referred to the very intemperate measure before the House, and also after the able manner which Mr Golder moved the second resolution, he thought very little remained for him to say. He said that the Bill was altogether absurd, and that it was no more likely to pas 3 the House than the Hon. W. Fox was to go to Heaven in a wheelbarrow.

Mr John Carroll, in seconding the motion, said he did noi require to add much to the remarks that had been made by the proposer of the motion. It was evident to every person who was the licensee of a hotel in this city that if this measure became law, he should receive compensation for the loss he would sustain.

Mr R. Wilson had a motion to propose, and he was sorry that it had not been entrusted to better hands. It was as follows :— " That this meeting is of opinion that the provisions of the Local Option Bill would be a source of unwarrantable annoyance and discontent to the travelling public." He had occasion to travel a good deal in the country, and he could assure the meeting that it would be a source of great inconvenience if so small a number of people should have the power to close a hotel upon the road-eide. He had no doubt that Mr Stout and Mr Fox would say that, though the licenses were taken away from such hotels, yet they could be still kept open, but in thinlypopulated districts, it was a3 much as the hotel would pay, even while possessing licenses. He could not understand how sensible men could support such a Bill. Mr Birch was gratified at meeting so many of his esteemed fellow citizens as he did on this occasion. He knew what it was to travel through this country, and knew the advantages of hotels. Mr Fox, though possessing extreme views, he believed to be a sincere man, but he could not say so much for Mr Stout, whom he considered had gone in for Dunedin under false colours ; for had he announced his intention of bringing forward such a Bill as this, he (Mr Birch) would not have supported him, aa he had done.

The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Connor proposed the next resolution, which was as follows : -" That while this meeting heartily sympathises with the temperance movement, it is of opinion that if the leaders of it confined their energies to tendering more

effective the penalties against drunkenness, and educating the people above that vice, they would effect more permanent good results than by any attempts at prohibition." He was sorry to say that he was not quite prepared to speak upon that resolution, but he was perfectly convinced that the Good Templars, whose Bill they had under consideration that evening, were taking the wrong steps for the purpose of effecting the object they had in view, viz., the prevention of drunkenness. Mr Moss seconded the motion, which was thereupon earned. Mr Richmond proposed tbe next motion — "That this meeting is of opinion, that the licensing laws at present in force in Otago are workable, and that they suit the views of the majority of the public, and, subject to very slight altetation, are acquiesced in by the trade." Those present knew he was a pretty old stager in the licensing business. If this Bill became law they could form their houses into clubs and get rid of the drunkards and the Door starved people that they did not want, bhanties would then teem around them, and the Police would have tan times more to do than at present. By bringing the disease to a head this way they would get rid of it earlier. It was a horrible thing, after men 'had gone into this business, that at the instance of a few blackguards, they should, be snuffed out in a moment. Did they think that if the Bill became law, that he would run round Leith Ward, asking the people to vote for the granting of hi 3 license ? Me would see* Fox and Stout — well, the Chairman knew where, before he would do that. The result of the pissing of the Bill will be to place every hotel keeper at the mercy of every blackguard that he did not trust with a bottle of whiskyj or lend 2a 6d to. Mr Stbachan seconded the motion. The motion was then put and carried. On the motion of Mr Mossit, it was resolved that the resolutions should be printed, and forwarded to the members of the House of Representatives, and also that a copy of them should be telegraphed to Mr Macandrew. The Chairman wished to bring under their notice another matter which had a direct bear-, ing on the subject before the meeting. He had received a telegram from Chnstchurch, saying that they were using active measures there for the purpose of preventing the passing cf Fox's Local Option Bill. The telegram stated that Ohristchurch and Timaru proposed to send a deputation to Wellington, to endeavour to get a clause, providing for compensation, inserted in the Bill, in the event of its passing the secoxd reading. The telegram asked if the Dunediu Association would send a delegate. He had replied that Dunedin would probably' do so, and he now expressed his opinion that Dunedin should be represented. Mr Falconer moved the following resolution :—": — " That this meeting is of opinion that bhould Mr 1 ox's Bill pass the second reading, a delegate should be sent to Wellington to act in concert with the delegates from the other parts cf the Colony." Mr Holmes seconded the motion, which, after a short discussion, was carried. On the motion of Mr Baxter, it was agreed that the expenses of sending a delegate should be borne by voluntary subscription. This ended the proceedings, and the meeting then adjouraed.