THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' INDICTMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11740, 18 September 1902, Page 7

THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' INDICTMENT.

To the Editor. . . gfr.—"Fair Play's" letter in the "Herald" has caused many to be amused. In the first, place, he says "the Licensed Victuallers consider^ they had solid grievances," etc. Who are the Licensed Victuallers "Who feel aggrieved? There is a rumour that members of the Licensed Victuallers' Association never agreed to, or saw the indictment before it was sent to the Minister of Justice, that the publicans of the town have no real; grievance, but that it is the President of the Association, Mr Hope Gibbons, brewer, who has a grievance, and is. using the Association's name as a cloak to help him. Rumour hath it that when he was asked to give

the names of the members of the Association Avho Avere aggrieved, he was. unable to do so. The [public have a right to know Avho the aggrieved persons are. Then "F.P." asks why the chairman and mem> bers of the Licensing Committee do not clear themselves, of the charges made against them. The indictment was sent to the Minister of Justice, bat tiia charges were so trivial and ridiculous that h& positively refused to take any notice oi them, even though the Association prevailed upon Mr Willis to champion their cause, but even a live Member of Parliament, and a Government supporter, did not move the Minister of Justice from his purpose, to have nothing to do Avith the matter. "No case," he replied, showing the value he placed, upon the production. "Fair Play" asks why the indictment is not published. If report be true, because Messrs Gibbons j and Co. know that it is so libellous and '■ they would have done so cmf \vj pmisleud misleading that they dare not publish it, or Ihey Avould. have dono so. They are afraid of their own production. To expect that the Chaiwnan and members of the Committee.. will ask for a commission to be appointed to enquire into their conduct may be very good as a joke, but they would be a pack of fools if they made such a request. It is for those whc haA~.-~ the grievance to ask for the . enquiry', li is quite evident that a committee composed as follows, is Avhat "the trade wants: — Chairman, H. Gibbons, Esq., TSrewer, members, Mr McCarthy, Avho shall be Clerk of Court, and four other members of the Licensed Victualler's Association. The "trade" would be satisfied, but Avhat about the public? I would suggest thab as the Licensed Victuallers' Association cannot get their -'ndictment printed, they call a public indignation meeting, and state their grievance frcm the platform, and invit3 the members of the Licensing Committed to be present to defend themselves.—l am, etc., SOBRIETY.