Trade Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 709, 8 October 1903, Page 22

Trade Topics

Mr F. AV. Watt, proprietor of the Imperial Hotel, New Plymouth, who underwent an operation in the hospital the othei- day, is, it is reported, progressing satisfactorily.

The following appears in the leading English Organ of the Trade : —" The extension of local option to liquor legislation in New Zealand has given that method of dealing with the problem of drink considerable popularity at the Antipodes a cry for local option is now being raised in Western Australia. It is extremely doubtful, however, whether such a system would work successfully on the goldfields owing to the lack of personal interest in parochial affairs. In New Zealand local option has led to the closing of many licensed houses, and in some parts of the colony prohibition is in force. Where reductions in the number of licenses are to be made in accordance with the will of the electors, it is provided that licenses which have been endorsed for breaches of the law in respect of selling liquor to children or to drunken persons shall be the first to be reduced, and next to these shall 'come licenses' held in respect of premises which comprise little or no accomodation for travellers or lodgers. This, of course, is fair enough. This provision is, however, qualified by the granting of discretionary powers to the district licensing committee to make the reductions to extend over the whole district in such manner as they think equitable, having regard to the convenience of the public and the particular requirements of the several localities within the district. Should Western Australia decide in favour of local option it is anticipated that the law will be framed on the New Zealand model.