THE LICENSING MEETINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 20

THE LICENSING MEETINGS.

The result of the annual meetings of the various licensing committees through out the colony have not been such as to oall for any extraordinary comment. The committees, on the whole, even in those places where the administration of licensing affairs has been placed (most improperly) in the hands of partisans, have shown a clear disposition to .do justice. In Dunedin, where reduction was carried (and over which sweeps at present a wave of most uncommon righteousness), certain drastic “ reforms” are to accompany the partial suppression of the trade. The barmaid is to go, and with her the second bar, but beyond inflicting hardship upon a generally respectable class of young women, it is hard to see what this “ reform ” will effect.

In Bruce and Newtown (Wellington) where no-license votes were carried to be afterwards upset on petition, the committees have seen fit to arrogate to themselves the powers of the Legislature, and to refuse to grant renewals. An appeal to the Supreme Court must follow, with a possibly of fresh legisation in the background, but the proceedings point very conclusively to the propriety of removing the licensing law administration from popular control, which means the control of party, and securing absolute impartiality. It will be noted with satisfaction that the Premier evidently intends to move in this direction. In Port Chalmers and Ashburton the experiences of Clutha are about to be, epeated. The residents will not be deprived of liquor, only they will consume it in their homes instead of in the hotels, but the unfortunate travelling public will have to go dry or seek the consolation offered by the sly grog-seller. Which leads one to ask why Sir Joseph Ward should have so eagerly capitulated in the matter of the railway refreshment room. The uses of this institution might surely be confined to travellers without much trouble. But it is one of the puzzles, that the present Government, which has shown such a courageous front to nearly all the elements opposing it, should have so readily kow-towed to the trenetic prohibitionist. In Auckland the Trade have no com plaint to make regarding committees, who have acted, apparently, on business principles, but they have a serious grievance against the police. The slur * cast upon every hotel by the unchanging formula in the police report, “ fairly well conducted,” is not only u* deserved but most improper. Police “ suspicion ” is no justification for condemning anything, and to flaunt it as the police do is most offensive. We do not think any of the houses have earned the description referred to, while in the case of the leading residential hotels the expression is a gratuitous insult, not only to the proprietors, but to the large body of the public who patronise them. The time is ripe for reform in this connection. The inspection of hotels should be placed in the hands of experts, as factories and other things are, and relieved of the stigma of police espionage, which, chiefly because it imparts a flavour of criminality into the business, is so largely taken advantage of by the procurers of the teetotal party. It will have been observed that the ten o’clock license is now general in this Province. The last places to fall in with this rule are Devonport and Northcote. In some other places eleven o’clock has been retained, but this is a matter of small importance compared with the huge injustice that has been wrought by the operation of no-license and reduction votes. But reaction will come, and come soon; of that we are assured. The people of New Zealand will not consent to be classed as children and agree to eat and drink according to the ideas of a few fanatics. J