The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th, 1902. PACKET LICENSES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11740, 18 September 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th, 1902. PACKET LICENSES.

It is very evident that in the eyes of a certain section of the local licensed victuallers the Wanganui Licensing Committee is incapable of a decent action. The latest compi'hJnti is that in regard to the packet licenses for the river steamers. It matters, not that the Committee, after discovering that in the past the licenses had been grant ed within a prohibited area., afforded the owners every facility to secure the removal of the embargo so far as the river waf concerned. It matters not that the Committee went out of its way to the extent of communicating with the Native Minister with a view to securing for the steamer owners the legal right to &ell liquor on that portion of the river which comes within the prohibited area. These things, which are patent to all other people, are ignored by the victuallers—or by those who profess to represent the victuallers, —and the Committee is charged with deliberately inflicting an unnecessary hardship upon the owners and with endangering the contir.u anci of the river steamer service. The charge, it scarcely need be said, is not ouly absurd: it is outrageously unfair. We have previously published some of the correspondence between the Committee and the Minister with reference to this matter. The following further letters, copied from the official records of the Committee, are more than sufficient to prove to every unbiassed mind the bona fide —we might almost say generous and considerate —action of the much-abused Bencn^ —

(Telegrams.) Wanganui July 16, 1902. The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington. Committee sat again yesterday to consider question of granting packet licenses to boats on Wamganui and as to conditions they ought to impose for protection of Maoris residing on river. -Applications have been further adjourned till quarterly licensing meeting in September, in hope that the difficulties which have arisen will in meantime be overcome by legislation or in some other way. The two main questions are—First as to the power of Committee to grant packet licenses to take ef/fecti within proclaimed area, and secondly as to right of licensees to sell liquor to passengers for consumption off vessels. In England and Scotland packet licenses only authorise sale for consumption ou^ boats. Committee of opinion, that if draft Bill Kent to you is passed the second difficulty before referred to would be got over. The question of amending the proclamation to get rid of tiie first difficulty is one which the Committee think must be removed by you. Report of meeting has been •"*"* b T%M a KETTLE, Chairman W.L.C

17th July, 1902. C. C Kettle, Es^., Chairman of Wanganui Licensing Committee. Have received your telegram of yesterday re the granting of packet licenses on the Wanganui River, and will give the matter

careful consideration. This morning's paper reports you as stating that I had said that the Government -would consider the matter and see if it could frame legislation to exclude the river from the prohibited area- What I said was that, like the Committee, I was anxious to protect the tourist traffic and at the same time keep the liquor oiit of the Maori kaihangas. The exclusion of the river raises the wider question of the policy of the Licensing Act. and what I said was that I would lay before the Government for its consideration the question of keeping liquor out of the kaingas, which I said would be dealt with under the Maori Council® Acts, and that I in- j tended to introduce an amending Bill to | more effectually prohibit the taking of liquor by anyone into a Maori kainga. J. CARROLL17th July, 1902. The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington. I simply stated that I had fully explained difficulties to you, and that you said you would confer with Acting-Premier and other Ministers on matter and see what could be done. Committee think that if Bill forwarded to you could be-passed, or if amendment of Native Councils Act' was> passed prohibiting sale of liquor on steamers for consumption on shore, and exempting river from proclaimed area, the difficulties which have arisen would be overcome. CHA& C. KETTLE, Chairman W.L.C. 19th July, 1902. The Hon. the Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington. Members of Wanganui Licensing Committee having promised, at request of owners of river steamers, to facilitate removal of objections re granting of packet licenses to boats on Wanganui River in order that tourists may not suffer inconvenience, have tlhe honour to inform you that' provided the natives on river are fully protected and Native Council agrees, and also that licenses limit sale to passengers for consumption on boats only and that bars be closed on Sundays and children's excursionsl, they will be glad if difficulties can be removed. 15th September. 1902. The Hon. J. Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs, Wellington. Licensing Committee met again to-day to consider adjourned applications for five packet licenses on Wanganui River. Conclusion arrived at was that, as matter of amending the law or proclamation is (as Committee is informed by. counsel for applcants) still under consideration of Government, packet licenses to take effect within prohibited area should not be granted at present. Committee have, however, offered applicants licenses to take effect as far as boundary of prohibited area-—viz., to Parikino —on certain conditions, a copy of which will be: forwarded to you. CHAS. C. KETTLE, Chairman W.L.C.

The "Herald" asserts that the applicants did not accept the licenses to Parikino, and that the steamers "are now debarred from supplying passengers with alcoholic refreshments." This is not correct. The licenses have been accepted. The suggestion that the Committee should, as before, have granted the licenses between Wanganui and Pipiriki, and alllow the matter to be settled by a test case, is tantamount to suggesting that the Committee should accept the responsibility of violating the law which it is elected to administer. The (proper tilling to do is for those most interested to endeavour to get £he> legal restriction removed. If they cannot do that, then let Mr Ha,trick —if he has any doubt as to the legality of thei Committee's decision—follow the advice which the "Herald" offers to the Committee.