Fair Play SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1894. Topics of the Hour. THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 19, 10 March 1894, Page 12

Fair Play SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1894. Topics of the Hour. THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

The excitement over the coming licensing elections is undoubtedly hardening up. Both Prohibitionists and Moderates are actively canvassing and working up support, and both parties are, we are informed, confident of victory. A great deal will depend upon the class and character of the candidates, and in this connection we cannot duly express the satisfaction we felt at the remarks made by the Post, in its issue of Tuesday night. We don’t often agree with the Post, which treated us, we may say, most unfairly over the recent action Bell v. ‘ Pair Play,’ but we must say that the Post's article of Tuesday was one of the most just, sane and logical effusions which have ever appeared in that organ. Prohibition means a frightfully increased burden to the ratepayers; the election of a committee pledged to reduce the number of licensed houses by thirteen also means a severe loss to the city. Such is the proper contention of our contemporary. But it goes further. It shows how, in a big sea-port like Wellington, the hotel accommodation is none too plentiful at present, and it is evidently against any reduction in the licenses, ergo it is against the platform of that collection of well-meaning but mistaken busybodies, the Social Beforrn Association. But while the Post is against the Prohi-

bitionists, it has told the Trade some very wholesome truths, taking the same line as that taken by us last week in our article ‘‘The Future of the Pub.” That article, we are informed, gave offence in certain quarters, some of the licensed victuallers being apparently averse to our plain speaking about the bad liquor and bad accommodation to be found in connection with too many of our New Zealand hotels. Now, while we believe in fair play for the publican, we also believe in fair play to the public, and bad grog and bad accommodation are things we shall always denounce, no matter whom we may offend. Like the Post , we take a stand upon the great principle of Regulation not Prohibition, but while we shall not cease to denounce the latter as a mischievous and stupid fad, we do not intend to be dumb on the necessity which exists for a better and more rigid control of the liquor traffic by the law, and the reforming, out of existence if necessary, of houses kept by men who wilfully disregard the wants and convenience of the public. GLADSTONE AND AFTER. Gladstone is no longer Premier of Great Britain, but is once again a private member. The long rumoured resignation has been given, and behold Rosebery reigns in his stead. 'Tis a great event, one fraught with gigantic possibilities of good and evil to the democratic cause. Rosebery himself, although a peer, has strong democratic instincts, but the English Radicals, yearly growing stronger in numbei s and influ encewill not long support a Cabinet in which the Whiggish Spencer and Kimberley and the cold doctrinaire Morley have important positions. The Liberal party will, we fancy, soon be in a state of chaos, which will not be made any better by the impatience of the Irish element, already beginning to snarl, and ere long to be in open revolt, if they don’t get precisely what they want. Now that Gladstone’s personal influence is out of the Cabinet, the luke-warmness of attitude which, so it is notorious, many of the English Liberals feel towards Home Rule, will be intensified, and there will be rows and ructions. After a time —not long if the peers continue in their present temper—there will be a dissolution, and as the Liberals will be at sixes and sevens, the Tories may very likely return to office. But it will not be for long, for the democratic spirit is growing in London as the younger working men grow up. There may be a Radical— Irish split, a temporary Tory triumph, but it will only be temporary. The masses must rule. To-day their cause is under a cloud because of Gladstone’s retirement, but the democratic cause does not. depend upon one man, one leader, however .great and able he may be. In time Gladstone's place as a leader of the democracy will be properly filled. Lord

Rosebery is but a stop gap. Tho real successor will arise in due time, and the democratic triumph be all the more complete and permanent for the delay.

BRAVO WARD

Bravo! to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Mr. J. G. Ward. The Postal Conference sitting in Wellington is a fine advertisement for the colony, and no one is more keenly alive to the value of a good advertisement than the dapper littlo man from Invercargill. He had no small difficulty to induce tho delegates to meet in Wellington, but he has a will of his own, and he found the way. Tho delegates are here, eminent Australians many of them, representative politicians from every colony, poor little Tasmania, always apathetic, being the only exception, and all gaining a knowledge of the fine natural advantages of soil and scenery possessed by Maoriland, is tho best advertisement the colony has had for a long time. The practical results of the Conference can be discussed another time. They should not be few nor should they be of small value, for the postal and telegraph services are matters which arc of the very highest importance to the commercial community, and, therefore, to the colony at large. Decidedly Mr. Ward has scored a big poiut by arranging for the Conference to bo held here. He is a smart business man and he should be applauded for a smart business more. There will be a small bill may be to pay for the entertainment and junketings generally, hut this the colonist will pay without the growling which is supposed to be a special privilege granted by a beneficem providonce to John Bull and his sons. Advertisements, to be worth anything, cannot be had for nothing. This particular advertisement is well worth paying for. TOO MUCH TICK. * We have heard a good deal of grumbling of late amongst the Wellington shopkeepers concerning the alleged slackness of trade and accompanying tightness of money. Is not much of the truth due to the absurd system of credit which obtains so widely in Wellington ? We think so. The facility with which the tradespeople give credit, and long credit, too, to persons who ought to pay cash but don’t, is something perfectly absurd. The fact is that a large number of people in Wellington, notably, those who belong to what is known as the “ society world ” are given to living up “ to every penny they earn,” and, not content with this foolish lack of economy they many of them fail altogether to keep their expenditure within the bounds of their incomes. Much of this state of things is due to the insane way in which some of them will persist in aping the expensive habits of then’ wealthier friends and neighbours. This is notice-

able most especially in dross and in tho money spent in anmsemont. Booauso Mrs. A whose husband is in tho Red Tapo and Wafer Department and draws £6OO a year goes to tho Opera House regularly and dresses in tho very latest procurable fashions, Mrs B whoso hubby is in tho Tin Tacks and Blottiug Paper Department and scrow is only £2OO a year, thinks she uittst do tho same. Houco, in her insane idea of koeping up to the tone of tho A’s, tho B’s patroniso tho theatre and dross with what is for thou a most oulpablo oxtravaganco. Tho butcher and baker and tho landlord of course suffer for this, and then howl about the slackness of trade and tho tightness of money. Tho samo sort of thing is duplicated in lower grades of Society. All through, this city is permeated by a snobbish aping of oxtravaganco and luxury and all through tho Demon Debt has possession of many a household. The credit system is tho curse of Wellington retail trade. It should bo materially modified. Until credit iB cut down and people live moro within their incomes than over them, the shopkoepor must contiuuo to make bad debts and to growl about hard times. Ho has tho remedy in his own hands. If ho does not choose to take that remedy, then lot him growl, lie shall have nono of our pity.

A UNIVERSITY FOR WELLINGTON.

That University Collogo for Wellington. It is sorely needed, it has been talked about and written about ad lib , but it is a long time coming. It is a grievous scandal that tho capital city of tho colony should be without a Univorsity College, and that tho young men of this part of the colony should havo to go so far away to prosecute their studies. Tho reproach should bo removed with all speed. That it has so long existed is a disgrace to tho public mon of Wellington Next session wo shall hopo and expect to seo a very determined effort mado to have a University College established hero. Mr. Bell has, so wo are led to understand, tho social salvation of tho colony in hand. Wo trust he may bo ablo to spore a little of his time next session to bring about the educational salvation of Wellington.