PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1892 THE BISHOP OF CHESTER ON THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6542, 8 December 1892, Page 2

P UBL ISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1892 THE BISHOP OF CHESTER ON THE DRINK TRAFFIC.

Whex the mail left the Uishop of Chester was engaged in drafting a Bill, having for its object the adoption of the Gothenburg system, with modifications to suit English requirements. In an interview with a representative of the Liverpool Courier, Dr. Jayno stated that the measure will bo forthcoming when Parliament meets. The account of the interview which appeared a the paper was corrected by the Bishop, and may be taken as authentic. After explaining the object of his visits, and courteously receiving an assurance that his questions would be 'answered as far as possible, the press representative observed : — Some years ago, your lordship made a public observation which caused much and varied comment at the time, to the effect that it had been one of your earliest ambitions to manage a publichouse. Had your lordship the scheme you are now advocating in your mind at the time? His lordship replied: -My interest in the entertainment, of the people question is nearly a quarter of a century old, and I was beginning to work towards my present position before I had even heard of the Gothenburg system. At that time I was seriously contemplating aii experiment in the management of a pub-lic-house, of course through a skilled manager, but a change of circumstances l< j d me to abandon the idea. I cannot illustrate my feelings on the subject better than by a quotation from Mr Ohamherban's speech on the licensing reform and and local option on November 15, 1876 : —

" If I could save Inlf the drunkards in Birmingham, if I could relieve them from the consequences of the vice to which they are a prey, if I could increase to that extent tho happiness aud prosperity of the community by turning publican, I would put on an apron and servo behind a bar to-morrow, and I should say I could not possibly engage in a nobler or more religious work." Subsequent experience has, however, amply shown me that a strictly-manns:ed publichouse, standing in the midst of publichouses managed on a laxer system, must be at an almost fatal disadvantage. I am, therefore, convinced that the experiment must be made on a larger scale and in a really fair field. The interviewer said : — Notwithstanding the oft repeated statement that it is impossible to make men sober by Act of Parliament, your lordship does not despair of making them temperate by legislative means. The Bishop answered :— My policy has been, and is, what I have termed an all round policy. I would bring every influence to bear and leave no stone unturned, but I certainly regard wise legislation as n most powerful factor. No thoughtful and experienced man nowadays can doubt the value of wholesome environment, ami towards this legislation can lnnjely contribute. He wont on to state that he believed the necessity for dealing with tho question is the more pressing in view of the shortening of the hours of labor, which seems inevitable in the near future, and he quoted the following from an article in the Spectator on the publichouse question : — " Whether eight hours becomes the legal working cUy or not, it will more and more toncl to become tho actual working day, and if only a third of the 24 hours is given to labor there will remain another third during which the men will be neither fit work nor asleep. A large portion of this time, if tilings be left as they are, will be spent in the publichouse. "

Tliei-o are two methods by which the Gothenburg plan could bo worked. Ono is directly by local government corporations, a plan favored by Mr Chamberlain, and the other is by delegating the authority to a company. The Bishop of Chester thinks there is much to be said in favor of both phns. He said : My proposal is simply the first recommendation of the House of Lords Committee in 1879 brought up to date by the utilization of the new machinery of the County Councils for the districts covered by them The committee recommended both the original Gothenburg plan and Mr Chamberlain's modification of it. In his evidence before the Committee Mr Chamberlain stated that he should not have the leasb objection in any Bill to a provision enabling corporations to transfer the matter to ,1 company formed upon the basis of the Gothenburg Company. I entirely agree with Mr Chamberlain and of course with the Lords' Committee that the two alternatives should bo allowed. Such an eminently capable and publicspirited corporation as that of Birmingham might widely undertake the full responsibility of pecuniary risk and management, but other corporations and county councils might prefer to entrust the experiment to a society which would undertake the financial risk and the labor of management, but would work in connection with and under the control of the local authority, and, after receiving a small Gxed interest on their capital, would devote all the surplus profits to public objects and to the improvement of its own system. The local authorities would thus have the maximum of control with the minimum of labor and risk. These would very properly be placad on the. shoulders of those who believe in the experiment and are prepared to bear the burden of making it. The two forms of the same Gothenburg system might with groat advantage work side by side in different parts of the country. It will be observed that throughout, my letters I have contemplated nothing but local action and control in this matter. The Stare, " acting through its local authorities and representatives," is my phrase. The very title of my first letter brings this clearly out. Nothing has been further from my mind than the notion of a huge centraMsed system. The interviewer drew the Bishop's attention to statements that had been made that Gotheuburgism had been far from a puccess, that for a while it partially sue-

ended, and that to-day the police and othor returns show a great increase in the cases of public drunkenness and insanity. The Bishop replied that nothing could be more singularly inaccurate than that statement ; for tho very reverse was the case. A complete refutation was to be found in the report forwarded in October, 1890, by SirF. Plunketfe, British Minister at Stockliolm, to the Marquia of Salisbury as Foreign Secretary. This report describes the working of the Gothenburg system in Sweden since 1876. lb represents the .pinions of Her Majesty's cansuls at Jothanburg aud Stockholm, and of 22 .•ice-consuls whose replied wore " without ,-xception " favorable to the new system. Here Rubenson, chief of the Stockholm ■■dice, who is spoken of as a muu of special knowledge and great experience, ,s equally strong in his favorable teati nony. The consumption of spirits per liead of pDpula ion had enormously de ,re;\sed and so had tho cases of delirium treraans. The Gothenburg system has oeen almost universally adopted throughout Norway. Regarding the question of compensation, the Bishop of Chester said :— Wild talk about a hundred millions of money serves only to cloud the issue, but that the publicans should have reasonable notice given them, that they should be assisted by purchase of their premises and stocks, where suitable, and by the reemployment of respectable men as managers, all this is a plan fair alike to the community and to those who have hitherto received year by year from the community the special privileges of licenses. The case of tied houses stands >n a different footing. The managers »rould have a good chance of reemployn^nfc under the society ov council ; while r.ha legitimate trade of the brewers and he distillers would be in no way interfered with. This composite compensation, so to call it, worked out smoothly in \ T orway, and there is no reason why it ■mould not do so in England. The interviewer asked : — From whom does your lordship anticipate the greatest objection toyour proposals? I am told, was the reply, that I have to expect strenuous opposition from the extreme wins of the total abstinence party and from " the trade." I have some reason, however, for thinking that, a large section of the more moderate teetotallers are by no means indisposed to look favorably upon my plan is a third branch or alternative of local option, and I beliere that many of the • rade, seeing the drift of things, would much prefer the equitable "composite " compensation which I have suggested to what otherwise the future may have in store for them. What I dread most is tho Kupineness of moderate men. I have ample proof that they are largely md cordially with me ; but they have not always the courage and strenuousness of rlieir convictions. That I am nob alone in this view is shown by the following extract from a leading article in one of the London papers :— " This issue rests with ihe moderate drinkers. They and they ilone can secure and they alone can also orevent Dr Jayne's Bill from becoming law. They can likewise ensure that it will become law before the termination of another year. The Bishop of Chester is their spokesman, and the solution of the drink question which he recommends is ono they ought to welcome). Their apathy is the only obstacle which threatens to be insurmountable, and it cannot be swept iway by anything short of a wave of enhusiasm."

The Harbor Board meets this evening. The County Council meets to-morrow afternoon.

The school holidays commence to-morrow, and iv the afternoon the prizes are to be distributed at the school.

The annual school concert is to be held this evening in the Theatre Royal. The programme is a really good one, and a bum per house is certain.

At the Court this morning Mr Booth, R. M.,gave judgment for plaintiff by default with £1 11s costs in the case of Common, Shelton, and Co. v. A. R. Wyllie, claim £o 8s 8d on a dishonored promissory note.

The acceptances for the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club's Boxing Day meeting close with the Secretary, Mr Harding, ou Saturday evening next, when entries will also close for the Maiden Plate.

A wooden-lecged man named Jas. Adams was a pitiful sight yesterday, being very drunk, and staggering about the streets. He was locked up for his own safety, and this morning fined 12s, or 24 hours' imprisonment in default.

At the Theatre Royal to-morrow will be commenced a large and unreserved sale of drapery of a wholesale house retiring from the trade. The sale begins at 11 o'clock, aud as there is such a large stock to dispose of will be continued at 1 p.m. next day.

In his evidence at the Court the other day in the Factories Act cases Sergt-Major Moore stated that at Miss O'Connor's establishment he found the doors closed. Miss O'Connor writes :— " Sir,— ln your issue of the 6th it was stated that I had the doors locked. Allow me to contradict that, as the doors were not locked."

A painful accident happened at the wharf on Tuesday afternoon to Mr F. Clayton, a well-known oarsman, and who was carting for Messrs Common, Shelton and Co. He was removing bundles of fencing wire, when one f (-11 and inflicted a nasty wound on his leg, causing considerable loss of blood and disablement for a few days.

It is sometimes unfortunate to have such a common name as Jones when butchers' bills are concerned. So thought Farmer Jones, of that ilk, when before the Court to-day to ans\rer to a summons of £2 ISs 4d due to Mr John Clark for butcher's meat. Defendant emphatically denied that that ho hail had the meat, and expressed the opinion that it must be some other Jones than " ' Garge ' Jones, fanner," but the butcher's books showed pretty conclusively that he did owe the money, and judgment was given for the amount claimed.

There is evidently one sorry man over a recent entertainment which was to have been held at Makaraka recently. Tho proprietor of the hall there this week had before the Police Court several inhabitants of the township for creating a disturbance by hooting, firing crackers, and throwing stone 3at his hall, with the result that the informations were dismissed. He to-day had the entertainers before the Court for a sum of £2, hire of the hall. Tho case, which was dofended, was adjourned.

A meeting of the Poverty Bay Rowing Club was held on Tuesday, ami the following new members were elected — Messrs Gray, G. Williams, G. Maynard, J. Allan, and J. Poswillo. Dr. Pollen was instructed to vote for coxwain carrying boats at the next meeting of the N.Z.A R.A. Mr J. Adeane notified his intention of giving a cup for a handicap single sculling race, and already several members have signified their intention to compete for it. The date on which the event will be rowed has not been fixed. It was also resolved that the name of the handicapper be not divulged. The first heat of the trial fours will start next Wednesday, and as all the crews are now in good practice some really good racing is expected. At the present time W. Walters' crew again hold the position of favorites.

The sequel of a newspaper enterprise came before the Court to-day, when E. H Petherick sued Percy Smyrk for £34 for salary. Mr Finn appeared for plaintiff. Mr Jones, for defendant, protested against the proceedings going on, as a declaration of insolvency was being filed by defendant. He said that His Worship had no power to go on with the case without leave of the Supreme Court, because Mr Smyrk was not in a position to defend the case, as the Assignee had to appear for him. E. H. Petherick gave evidence that he was employed by defendant as editor and manager, and the amount sued for was due and owing. Mr Finn asked for judgment, saying that he was prepared to accept the responsibility of taking judgment under the circumstances, the bankruptcy petition not having been filed over 24 hours, and as he held a, letter from defendant admitting the debt, Mr Booth, R.M., gave judgment for the amount, with £2 Court costs and £3 3s solicitor's fee.

Nominations for the Poverty Bay Turf Club's annual meeting close on -Monday evening at 8 at the Masonic hotel.

The N.Z. University Law and Matriculation examinations, which have been held in the Theatre Royal under the superintendence of Mr J. O. Barnard, close to-day.

A meeting of a convivial society called tho Twenty First Society was held last night, about 25 friends assembling to recognise the attainment of his majority by Mr R. H. W. Guise. A presentation of a hat was made, and with complimentary sjieeches and music a pleasant evening was spent.

The Weather. —Weather forecast for 24 liours from 9a.m. to-day: — Wind between north-east and south-east at all places ; barometer fall everywhere ; sea heavy betwecsn Lyttelton and the East Cape. Telegrams to expect strong easterly winds have bsen repeated to East Coast stations between Kjukoura and the East Csvpe. Synopsis of last 24 hours : Fine weather everywhere, and there has been very little movement of the barometer. — R. A. Enwi>\

In the Supreme Court at Auckland yesterday the case on appeal from the decision of Mr Booth in Barron Bros. v. W. Maude, claim for £25 as endorser of a p.n., came on for argument. At the original hearing when Mr DeLautour appeared for Barron Bros., and Mr L. Rees for Maude, judgment was given for the plaintiffs for the amount claimed and costs. The defendant appealed against this judgment, and Mr Justice Conolly held that the judgment in the Court below was wrong in point of law, and allowed the appeal with costs. The appellant was represented by Mr Cotter, W. Bullen appearing for the respondents.

Shirt sleeves in Court. — Walter J. Wood, who was fined 40s on Monday for failing to answer to his name when the common jury was being empanelled, appeared before the Chief Justice on Tuesday morning (says the Wellington Post), and explained that his absence was owing to hia wife having failed to remind him that his attendance was required. Wood was in his shirt sleeves, and His Honor asked him whether he thought it was right that he should come into Court with his coat off. Wood : It's very warm outside. His Honor : Well, it's warm inside as well, but there is no one here without his coat on. The learned Judge reproved the man for not appearing before him fully dressed, and ordered him to leave the Court at once, whereupon Wood made a hurried exit.

Au amusing episode occurred recently in Christchurch. AMr Black was standing in

front of the White Hart Hotel, when a policeman came up, and believing Mr Black to be someone he was looking for, asked him, " Excuso me, sir, isn't your name White?' " No, my name is Black," replied the individual addressed. Whereat the policeman became somewhat crusty, and observed that Mr White needn't try to be funny, as the business was serious. "I am not White, I am Black," said the gentleman, " and if you come with me 1 will convince you." So saying he led the way to a well-known citizen's office, and was identified as Mr Black. The discomfited policeman apologised and withdrew, but it always will be remembered against him that he didn't know Black from White. In a series of articles in the Wanganui Herald Major Puruell contrasts the treatment of New South Wales and this colony of their volunteer forces, and it is conclusively shown that the comparison is very much to the disadvantage of this colony. The Major points out that a New Zealander purchases his rifle at a cost of from £4 to £8, pays 12s (id per hundred rounds for his ammunition, and Gd or Is for the marker every time he shoots. The New South Welshman has his rifle issued free of cost, gets his ammunition for ss, and pays nothing for marking. In New Zealand competitors get free railway passes, but pay all steamboat fares. In Australia all travelling is free of cost to the competitor, and he is paid 10s per day while at the meeting. At Wellington the volunteers were left to provide their own permanent range, while at Sydney the Government spent £11,000 in giving the necessary accommodation. The Major is rougher still on New Zealand when he speaks of the treatment the New Zealand team received. On leaving Wellington a high departmental official impressively told the members of the team that the Government did not recognise them in any way — they attended solely at their own responsibility. Nothing daunted, however, by this news, they went on to Sydney, No sooner

had they landed there than everything was done to welcome them. Separate accommodation was provided for the team, and free

use of the range and markers given them during their stay. Every official connected with the Association gave them full information on every detail connected with the

meeting, and after the meeting was over free passes by rail were put at their disposal by the Premiers of New South Wales and Victoria.

"Woman "says the jewels worn by Mrs Lang try in the different acts of the "Queen of Mnnoa " are altogether worth between £60,000 and £70,000. The diamond and ruby necklace worn in the third act actually cost £9000.