THE LICENSING LAWS.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11435, 14 September 1905, Page 2

THE LICENSING LAWS.

ACTION BY THE NELSON L.V.A.

TRADING DURING PROHIBITED HOURS CONDEMNED AND PROHIBITED. The following circular was yesterday forwarded by the Executive Committee of the Nelson Licensed Victuallers' Association to all licensees in the city and district, and is an evidence of the desire on the part of the owners of licensed houses to pee that the law is rigidly observed by the hotelkepeers :— 11 Dear Sir,— We, the undersigned, being the Executive set up to db our utmost to protect the interests of the licensed victuallers throughout the Nelson District, respectfully oesf to bring under your serious notice the increasing complaints of the public against excessive drinking and Sunday trading. It is a matter for great regret that, owing, we believe, to the occasional presence in the City of a certain class of men, these complaints are well founded on fact. "The numbers of drunken men lately seen about the city undoubtedly bring our trade into disrepute with the public, while the numbers of people seen coming out of hotels on Sunday condemns the trade as a wholo, and leads the public to accept the oft- repeated charge of the No License party that we are not lawabiding citizens, and therefore should not be treated on the ordinary principles of justice and equity that are applied to every other class of the community. Many of us consider the law is harsh, but still it is the law, and we must not forget that so long as laws are made it is the duty of every right-minded citizen to observe them. If we do not. in our particular trade, observe the law, we cannot expect justice and consideration to be shown us at the approaching local option polls. "We now earnestly ask you to help us, and, further, to co-operate with us in our endeavors to see that our trade is conducted on perfectly legal and respectable lines, so that it may be above all reproach, for only by so doing shall we continue to hold the respect of the majority of the public, who are neither unreasoning fanatics nor unjust in their views as regards our prosperity and livelihoods. But so long as some members of our trade persist in serving drunken men, or in serving individuals until they exceed moderation, so long shall we risk a No License or Reduction vote, and bo long will our efforts as your Executive prove utterly useless in endeavoring to save you and ourselves from ruin. "May we rely upon your support to do all in your power to prevent your employees serving drink to partly drunken persons, and to strictly observe the law aB regards Sunday, trading and trading after hours? "May we rely upon your sympathy in the formation of a vigilance Committee, to be formed only in the event, however, of it being found that some of the trade still persist in serving drunken persons, and in serving during prohibited hours? for it is thought by your Executive that these Licensed Victuallers who care neither for their own good names, nor for the good names and the welfare of others, should be brought to book, and, if possible, be removed from the trade, to which they are not only a disgrace, but a positive danger. "Attached herewith we are sending you a copy of our Solicitor's opinion re raiding during prohibited hours, which your Committee consider of general interest to licensees.".