Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1895. CLUB LAW.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5038, 30 May 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1895. CLUB LAW.

»_ ! The " dead set" which, was made at the Clubs at the recent meeting of the Prohibition Party, in Palmerston North, applies mainly to those delectable institutions which arc known as " Working Men's Clubs." Although, of course, any legislation which may be attempted, will apply equally to all classes of Clubs, yr' those patronised by the "hornj handed" are the establishmem which it is specially desired to cor tool inoie effectually thanthepreser law permits. The working me havo only themselves to thank ft ' any attempted interference with tl privileges they have hithert enjoyed unmolested. It is manifest! patent that a Working Men's Clu cannot possibly be maintained o the merely nominal subscripts which is levied. In some instance the subscription to the leadin Working Men's Clubs is only Is pc month, and in' a great many othc instances no subscription at all i charged, It is evident therefore, thti to maintain these Clubs, a ver expensive matter, the profit mm come froia somewhere. There is only one way in whjc this profit can be obtained, and tlin is oyer the bar, Practically the • the ordinary Working Men's Clu exists for biit one object, namely.th consumption of cheap liquor, A! the other attractions, such as socisi ' gatherings, reading rooms, billiards etc,, are but sido shows to drai attention away from the chief objei of the Club-the bar, Workm Men's Clubs,asthey exist at preseni are nothing more nor less tha unlicensed hotels, with the adde disadvantage of no police control c supervision, What do we see ha recently happened in a small tow: like Wanganui? Several hotel were closed by fcho Licensing JJqncl: 1 and mushroom-like three so-calle' Working Men's Clubs immediatel f sprang up to Mw their placet Small wonder is it therofore tha the Temperance Party, all thing considered, have some fair show o : reason in the action they are taking | By all means.letall Club's withon ' distinction be subject to strict super vision and control. Those that aii properly conducted have nothing fa fear. It need not, however, bi assumed for a moment that the pro posed club legislation will be giyei effect to this session, It would hi far too unpopular a move for tin 1 Government to tiike any risk in tin matte^""' '"'"

■■' Tho Premier Las Local refused the request I Government, of the Counties to

circulate the Local Government Bill which he will introduce a month hence, on the ground that the publication of it prior to the meeting of Parliament will stimulate opposition, When it does come it will bo a sort of ukase" by order of the Czar," If tho local bodies had been trade-unions, they would doubtlessly have been fully taken into the 'confidence of the Government. All that the local bodies have to do is to open their mouths and shut their eyes and take the toxa which Mr Seddon is preparing for them,