HOME NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 814, 12 October 1905, Page 24

HOME NOTES.

(“ L.V. Gazette,” August 25.) In view of the continued increase of drunkenness one can well understand that the Bailies are at their wits’ end to know what to do—what to suggest. Not only every Monday morning, but every week tells its sorrowful tale—the number of charges at the police courts compares unfavourably with the corresponding date of last year. The latest suggestion is the municipallsation of the liquor traffic, and the question was keenly debated at the last meeting of the Glasgow Town Council. Bailie Forsyth moved : — “ That this Corporation is of opinion that one of the most satisfactory methods of dealing with the liquor question is that of direct public or municipal control, and that, therefore, a committee be appointed to prepare a scheme for carrying this into effect, and to report.”

Frankly admitting that Scotland was not ready, by a long way, for prohibition, he drew a glowing picture of the beneficial results which he contended would ensue from public control—brighter and better public-houses, better liquor, better management, and shorter hours for employees. A chimera, truly, as has been proved wherever inunicipalisation of the liquor traffic has been tried. * * * Although it was a small meeting of the Town Council that met to discuss the subject, the voting showed that Bailie Forsyth’s brother members of the Corporation were not in sympathy with him over this matter, “the previous question” having been carried by 23 votes to 12. It was just another step towards Socialism, urged Mr. W. F. Anderson. Would the Corporation make Glasgow more sober by seeking to do in its official capacity what the license-holders were doing ? He held that they could not. He did not care whether the license was held by Bailie Forsyth himself or whether they brought down an angel from heaven to sell the drink—the same results would follow. Air. Batteisby was equally demonstrative. He was utterly opposed to the municipality taking over the sale of intoxicating liquor, and maintained that the men who were in the Trade to-day were as respectable as any class of men any municipality could place in it. Moreover, he pointed out that the Corporation would require an Act of Parliament before they could establish municipal public-houses. * * * * Discussions of this character, although of no practical utility, are interesting as showing the wide divergence of opinion that prevails on a well-worn subject. Temperance reformers and the Trade are agreed that the liquor business is not a legitimate field for the enterprise of any corporation. The public would not . be benefited one iota by the municipalisation of the liquor traffic. The testotaller, of course, objects on the ground that no public body should in any way be associated with the sale of intoxicating drink; the Trade, on the other hand, is satisfied that private enterprise is vastly to be preferred to municipal management since license-holders, who are mere servants, have not the same weighty responsibility as those whose fortunes are bound up in the good conduct of their business. The dispute between the Birkenhead

Town Council and the borough licensing justices over the expenses incurred in fighting the recent mandamus cases in the King’s Bench Division and the Court of Appeal has taken an unexpected turn. The Town Council having authorised the Finance Committee to pay the costs, amounting to some £7OO, it was anticipated, after the opinion expressed by a well-known King s Counsel, that the ratepayers would take steps to restrain the corporation from making any such payment, instead of which the local Licensed V ictuallers’ Association has promptly moved in the matter, and obtained from Mr. Justice Bray an interlocutory injunction. The case cannot come before the Courts until after the long vacation. Meanwhile the Town Comicil have determined by a large majority to fight the matter, and have given instructions to the Finance Committee to this effect. The case will be looked forward to with much interest, as a second point is now involved —have Town Councils the power to insist upon payments authorised by them to be made by the Finance Committee? * * There are as good churchmen amongst licensed victuallers as there are amongst any other commercial body of men, and since the licensing business has been sanctioned by Parliament and is carried on under the law of the land—a fact which many people seem to forget—it is regrettable that attempts should be made to widen the breach between the Church and the Trade, caused by the unfortunate incident at Derby, where Miss Williams was turned out of St. Peter’s Church Bible Class because she happened to be a publican’s daughter. Mr. Thomas Weston, of the Reresby Arms, Denaby Main, and vice-president of the Doncaster Licensed Victuallers’ Association,

has felt bound to defend himself in tne Press against what he considers some slanderous remarks made against him by the local church minister. His name, it is said, was mentioned in the pulpit “ in reference to his meanness” in not giving more liberally to the children’s treat on Whit-Monday. * * * * Mr. Kettle, the magistrate at the Tower Bridge Police Court, on Wednesday decided that “there is no ‘standard’ for vinegar any more than there is for beer,” and the Trade are now looking forward with interest to the decision of the North London magistrate in regard to the forthcoming whisky prosecution. The question: “What is whisky?” is one of such vital importance to the Trade that the distillers and wholesale houses have been approached in regard to the matter, and at a meeting held in Glasgow the other day, it was decided to defend the actions coming into Court. The ten summonses that have been taken out, it is now understood, are for selling as malt whisky what is really a distillation from grain. Presumably the authorities wish to establish that whisky should be the product of pure malt, and that all other kinds are not whisky, and cannot legally be sold as such. What the distillers have been endeavouring to do is to study the palate of the whisky-drinking public, and if a mixture of malt and grain is preferred to a whisky of pure malt, that mixture will be sold —but whether in future under the name of whisky remains to be seen. '* * * * Messrs. Dale and Reynolds are now busily engaged in connection with the annual Brewers’ Exhibition and market, and from the support already' received it is quite evident that this year’s show, which will open at the Agricultural Hall on October 14, will be equal in point of interest and number of exhibitors to any of its predecessors. For the first time prizes will be offered for cigars, cigarettes and tobaccos, and many of the leading firms, it is expected, will put in an appearance. There will be the usual competitions for beers, cider, barley and hops, and the managing directors announce that the latest dates for making entry will be as follows : —Beers, September 26; cider, September 28; barley, October 4; and hops, October 7. Forms should be sent direct to the Exhibition Offices, 46, Cannon-stieet, London, E.C. Last year business called Mr. A. T. Dale away’to South Africa, and he was greatly

missed, not only at the opening ceremony, but throughout the week of the exhibition. He will be much in evidence this year. # Attention has-been called in this column, from time to time, in analysing the Board of Trade returns, to the increasing imports of wine from Australia. Largely recommended by the faculty for its purity and. wholesome character, Australian wine has long been in steady demand for private consumption, but there is really no reason why it should not be largely sold by licensed victuallers and restaurant-keepers. Great difficulty has hitherto been experienced in obtaining the vintages of any particular grower. The Australian wine sold in this country has been chiefly a blend. The “ Orion brand of South Australian wine has, it is true, made a name for itself, but it has been difficult to obtain Victorian wines. This difficulty will be obviated in future, as one of the largest growers Mr. Hans Irvine, of the Great Western vineyard—has just come to London to put the produce of his own vineyard upon the market. His wines, which have been awarded something like five hundred gold medals, cups and diplomas, are wellknown throughout Australia, and as soon as their merits are recognised in this country they cannot fail to be in great demand here. He produces a really lemarkably good champagne, which he is about to place upon the market with every confidence that it will be readily taken up, and those who are acquainted with his excellent wines are satisfied that his experiment will turn out the success he anticipates.