Licensed Victuallers' Association,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5348, 28 August 1895, Page 1

Licensed Victuallers' Association,

EESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT,

The following letter was received by Mr W. H. Kiddey, secretary to the Licensed Victuallers' Association, yesterday, from Mr P. Burke, resigning his position as president of the Association :—

Sir,— l beg to tender my resignation of the office of president of our Association. I have come to this determination after f ally considering the situation from its bearings. First, for many months past I have been attacked by a few members of the trade and I am sorry to relate that some of them are also members of our Association. Their reasons or motives for attacking 1 me are simply these :— I have endeavoured at all times to keep up an organisation as a first principle for common defensive purposes against a bitter, scurrilous, unscrupulous band of fanatics, and further endeavoured to urge members to respect the law and give up illicit trading and condaot their business in a manner which, to my mind, would be the best means of cutting the ground from the feet of oar opponents. Now, why should the trade attack me for advocating the aforesaid principles ? Because, in the first place, they want to put forward the break , ing away of legal covenants and agreements. This they have proved by their actions a few weeks ago, when they called and held a secret meeting, which neither myself nor my committee had any know* ledge of; and, in the second place, I am attacked for the sake of greed and gain on account of my trying to do everything in my power to prevent Sunday and illicit trading, for I honestly believe and fearlessly assert that it will be on this rook that the trade will perish. The gentlemen conducting themselves in thiß manner axe the greatest friends of the prohibitionists, and I sincerely hope they will see their error ere long. On the other hand, there are a great many genuine and good men in the trade, but by their carelessness, inactivity and apathy in the past, they have allowed our position to drift as it has. IE they were alive to their first interests, namely, organisation, activity and hard work against a common and bitter enemy, the position would be different. However, it is not too late, and will they arise to the occasion and put aside the conflicting interests and indifference and apathy shown by them up to the present, time? There is no reason why I should advocate the protection of those who are well able to protect themselves, and in fact I would feel more inclined and willing, in a reasonable way, but not otherwise, to assist the publicans for the redreaa of any grievances than I would the stronger party ; and neither ia there a reason why I Bhould continue in office and be attacked by the publicans and some of the wholesalers for no faults which they can prove, for I owe them nothing. If we went into an account the balance would work out on the other side, for there is no man holding a publicans' license, brewer, merchant or holder of public-house property, that does not owe me something for my five or six years' hard work. And is this the way my fellow traders repay me by dragging my name and fame in the mire P In fact, some of them could scarcely find a name black enough for me. Surely this is not the way to treat a man who haa stood loyally by every movement having for its object the advancement of the interests in which he was embarked ? In conclusion, I hope the members of the trade will think seriously of protecting their own interests, namely, the protection of their license, for the very moment that is gone in a great many instances their all is gone. This I know from practical experience, having gone through the fire; a house in which I was deeply interested having been closed for two years, thereby losing all my interest in it, which perhaps had something to do with influencing my mind against the prohibitionists ever since, and resenting their attacks wherever and when I could. I am extremely grateful for the assistance I have received from the various committees that have been set up from time to time : lam also very thankful and pleased for the assistance I have received from Mr John Carl, who has been in office now for many years as treasurer to the Association, and to all the members who have worked with me.