The Licensing Act.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 171, 10 February 1888, Page 2

The Licensing Act.

(Wairarapa Daily).

A communication from our special correspondent iu our last issue intimated that there was a probability of two new licenses being granted at : Pahiatna, so that during the coining year that progressive settlement will - enjoy the luxury of three hotels. When j some three or four years ago Pahiatna proposed to convert the excellent ! accomodation house then occupied by Mr Crewe into a jmblic house, we advised settlers there to do without a lie*" use for some further {>eriod. We felt that one hotel was not then needed, j and we feel that three are now unnecessary. It does not follow how-- I ever that they should he dispensed ! with because they are unnecessary, j Under the present licensing Act almost any man who seeks to obtain a license can get one. A year ago two newhotels were not required in Masterton, hut they obtained licenses, and if two more promoters of hotel licen.-es went to work, m a similar maimer, this year a couple more licenses could no doubt be obtained. As far as our experience goes the present licensing Act in this district is an utter failure, and the elective principle embodied in it is a delusion and a snare. The time is now coming round again for tiie annual election of our licensing committees, mid the farce will probably be repeated of pitchforking on to them tho Usual publicans' nominees. The only people, as a rulo, who take a genuine interest in these elections are tho licensed victuallers or those who seek to become licensed victuallers, and these usually control the voting. The Temperance party do display a certain amount of interests in the proceedings. It is understood that they are in some way making a protest, but it is pretty generally known also that no wellorganised or earnest action from this quarter is likely to endanger an election. Before the poll takes place it is known who are to be returned, all arrangements are made and tliecandidues for whom they are cut ami dried | have virtually a walk over. We trust some day to see elective licensing comj mittecs abolished and nominated ootnj missioners replace them. The old | " airarapa licensing benches—a couple of them served the whole district—j kept the hotels of this district in far j bettei order than the present commitj lees maintain them. They regulated

the number of them within a reasonable limit, and saw that proper and adequate arc--umi<> iatnui was provided for the pubbu. A landlord in those days know that the licensing bench was hi* in.-ster, now ho recognises it as bis servant. Having watched the two systems working in tho Wairarapa we do not hoitate to say that the prosent elective machinery is an expensive farce. ami that the former system was for all pra tical intents and purpose* immensely superior to it.