The Licensed Victuallers' Gazette

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 932, 16 January 1908, Page 20

The Licensed Victuallers' Gazette

The sy-grog selling ev.l, which has been referred to recently, is said to be reaching alarming dimensions in Sydn y. Judging from police reports, the cur.a 1ment of hotel licenses has been mmedia ely followed by dozens of what are styled “ perambulating pubs.”

In the local Court, a youth named Frederick Thomas Sparkes a recent arrival from Sydney, was recent y sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for having stolen some jewellery, the property of two employees at the Star Hotel. Accused was employed as pan ryman at the time the offence was committed.

■; During the government invest gation of the American Tobacco Co. before U.S. Commissioner Shields recently, Thomas R. Yuille, head of the leaf buying detold how the company fixed the price paid tobacco growers in order to regula e the supply. A committee of four chosen from the board of directors, he said, determines the company’s purchasing policy. The buying is started at an average price, the witness added, which is raised if the leaf is coming in too great. According to his tes'imony, the American Tobacco Company nas buyers in every market in the U.S. but does not attempt to control its competitors’ buyers in any of them. The chief competitor, Mr Yule swore, were the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain and the R. J. Reynolds Co.

While it is legally permissab’e for a shopkeeper to sell non-alcohoic beverages on Sundays, such beverages must not be swallowed by. a customer in any part of the shop where the customer can be seen from the street (says 'the “ Lyttelton Times”). This regulation, according to Mr W. H. Hagger, in charge of the Labour Department’s Cnristchurch office, has been made in accordance with the spirit of the legislation which decrees that no person shall follow his ordinary trade or avocation within view of the pub'ic on Sundays. Some of the shopkeepers, however, appear to consider it absolutely necessary that the customer shall remain seated whi'e drinking. Needless tosay, there is no legal authority for this opinion.

Some excitement was caused in Market street, Sydney, the other day by the bursting of a cask of wine in a cellar underneath a barber’s shop. The barber and his assistants were attending to several customers at the fme, while ether customers were awaiting their turn. When the explosion took p’ace there was a general rush for the street. The presence in the street of several men with partially lathered faces and towels around their necks, quickly attracted a crowd, but the amusement did not last long. As soon as the cause of the explosion was ascertained the hairdressers and customers returned to the shop. A boy was in charge o f the wine ceKar at thet me, and, as the cask gave warning before it burst, he got out of the way, and the only loss sustained was the wine, which flowed over the floor.

During the 24 years Mr James Ashcroft has been official assignee at Wellington, the estates of 3000 bankrupts have passed through his hands. * ♦ * * A party in a noisy motor car arrived at Rotorua past midnight on Thursday, and began touring round in search of accommodation. At last, with the aid of the constable on the beat, a bed was found —one only. This did not suit one of the party, who held that he could claim a bed as a right, and a long legal argument ensued, and a reference to the sergeant, who was knocked up at two a.m. to discuss the licersing ’aw in his pyjamas. An enterprising youth of S ewar. Island has 'ately occupied his time in collecting “ dead marines ” in the vicinity of Ha’f Moon Bay, and on Wednesday last' (says the “ Southland Times ”) he

came over to the ma’n'and with 20 cases of empty bottles, the proceeds from the sa’e of which he expec ed would see him ccmfor.ably through the holidays.

Mr J. S. Dainsbury, whose death took place at Whangamata recently, under somewhat painful circumstances, had been a licensee in that d strict for many years, and was well known in the Waihi and East Coast dis ricts. Of late years deceased had no enjoyed the best of health, which was accelerated by business worries. Indicat on pointed to suicide by poisoning, the jury returning a verdict to that effect, adding that deceased, at the time of his deaih was of unsound mind.

In the local Court as. Saturday, a young man answering to the name of Malcoln Turner, wh le in a semi-intoxi-cated state, went into a ho el for a drink. A dispute over the payment resulted in the barman taking the drink back, while Turner picked up a syphon and a glass and marched off. Mr Brookfield said the defendant had no recol ection of the occurrence. His Worsh'p agreed that it was more the act of a drunken man than a case of theft, and discharged the accused with a caution.

A man named John Pearce Baker, appeared in the loct Court last week to answer charges of having obtained three sums amount ng to £l5- f r °m Mr Maurice O’Connor, by means of fase pretences. He was remanded on bail.

The procuring of liquor for a prohibited person cost a Paeroa man £1 and costs in the Magistrate’s Court at that p ace last week.

Last Friday, at the Magistrate’s Court, Ashburton, Andrew Young was charged with keeping five cases of whisky for sale. He was convicted and fined £2O and costs.

The United States Government has reduced the duty on French wines to 20 per cent, in return for similar concessions on cot on-seed oil and certain classes of mach'nery.

At Oamaru ’ast week a man named Alfred Millen was fined for having procured liquor during the currency of a prohibition order.

The hop crop in Nelson has, it is reported. been materially reduced s nee last year, and the general opinion is that the district would have been more prosperous if the picking of hops had never taken p’ace. One grower recently so'd 30 ba’es of last season’s crop a' 3d per lb, and estimates his loss at £l2O.

It is reported that the Cook Islanders have taken to drinking perfumery, and regulations are now gazetted stipu'ating he conditions under which perfumery may be imported and purchased, and the quantities that may be sold ; also the fines for breaches of the order.

Mr and Mrs Burns, who are leawng the Panmure district, after being in the Star and Garter Hotel for some years, were farwelled last Friday evening by a large number of residents. Mr Burns was presented wi'h a handsome illumina'ed address and a gold a'bert, and Mrs Burns w : th a bangle set with pearls. * # * •

Business is reported as being excellent so far this season at Rotorua, and with the carnival coming on, no doubt a record season wi’l be recorded. Many people who have not booked rooms find a great difficulty in securing accommodation, every hotel and boarding-house having their capacities taxed to the utmost. # * * *

Mr Moss Davis, of Messrs Hancock and Co., Ltd., was booked to leave London on his return journey to Auckland on the 12th December last.

Mr T. Meehan, licensee of Gleeson’s Hotel, died las' Saturday; aged 55 years.

Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., has decided that original statements of witnesses and others, if taken down by constables in wri ing, should be carefully preserved and produced as evidence.

A feed Crossey who appeared in the local Court last Monday to answer charges of having obtained from W. M. Cooke and C. Leek, sums of money by means of va'ueless cheques, was remanded for a week.

It is reported from Sydney that while serious cr me shows a decrease, drunkenness is on the increase in that city. This is no doubt due .0 the enormous amount of sly-grog selling which is now said to be carr ed on there.

A cash box containing coin, cheques, and jewel ery to he value of was stolen from the bar of the Old England Hotel, Bourke Street, Melbourne, after closing time one night recently. The empty box was found nex: morning in a right-of-way.

A Horopito correspondent writes to the Tahape “Times”:—We have now ten hop-beer shops all doing a roaring trade. The last two opened about a fortnight ago. A few make it rather strong, which have affec ed the heads of many.

Champagne has 12.2 per cent of alcohol, and gooseberry wine 11.8 per cent.

The vine attains a great age, continuing fruitfu’ for at least four hundred years. It is supposed to be equal to the oak as regards longevity.

THE LATE MR MEEHAN.

By the death of Mr Tom Meehan, which took place last Saturday morning, one of the o dest identities in the Auckland hotel trade, has been removed. For upwards of twenty years Mr Meehan he’d an hotel license with an unapproachable record. Of a kind y unassuming na'ure the deceased gentleman made fr'ends with everybody, and of him it may be truly written that his friends were legion and his enemies few. Much sympathy is felt for Mrs Meehan, in her sad bereavement. The funeral last Monday was attended by a ’arge number of fr ends and acquaintances, testifying to the unbounded popularity of the deceased.

THE ANGELO ESTATE.

A special meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of John Angelo, fish dealer, of Whangarei, was held at the office of the officia 1 ass gnee (Mr E. Gerard) last Friday. The meeting was called fohr the purpose of examining Mr John Mowbray, in respect to the sale of the Ngunguru Ho el. Mr W. G. Beckett appeared on beha’f of the bankrupt, and also as proxy for a number of Whangarei creditors. Mr John Mowbray was represented by Mr Howarth (Messrs Earl and Kent).

Mr Howarth moved for an adjournment of the meet’ng, say, for three weeks, and, on the assignee asking to be given reasons, he said that he was instructed to ask for the adjournment on the grounds that there was a prospect of a settlement between the creditors and Mr W. W. Bruce, who acted as trustee for Angelo’s es ate under a deed of assignment prior to the bankruptcy. Mr Beckett, in seconding the motion for adjournment, stated that probably no further meeting would have to be called, as those who were at present creditors, might have been settled with in the meantime.

The asignee said that he considered th’s an unusual and not quite correct procedure, and as so much publicity had already been given to the matter he would certain’y not help to throw a veil over it now, nor would he allow his office to be used for that purpose. It was quite immaterial to him what settlement the creditors and Mr Bruce wou'd arrive at, but whatever such settlement might be, it should be known to him (the assignee),

and should be made in due course through his office- Of course, he sad, any proved creditors might ask permission to withdraw their proofs, but the Act provided that they could not do so without rhe assignee’s permiss on. Satisfactory reasons must, therefore, be given for any request to withdraw. Mr Beckett agreed, on behalf of the creditors, that no a tempt would be made to arrive at a settlement without the approval of the assignee. The meeting was then adjourned for a month, or as scon thereafter as it may be convenient for the assignee to arrange.

SLY GROG CASES.

In the local Court last Friday, charges were preferred against Bert Duncan, of having, on three occasions, in December 21, and 22 last, sold liquor to Constable Clark, without a license. Mr W. E. Hackett defended. The case for the prosecution, as stated by Sub-Inspector Gordon, was that at about 11 o’clock on the night of December 21 Constable Clark, together with a man named Gilman, proceeded to a house in Customs-street West. They knocked for admittance, and a voice inquired from within “Who’s there?” The constab e and Gilman replied that they were some of he “boys,” who had come to get a “taste.” The accused thereupon let them in, and in response to their request supplied them with a bottle of beer, which they paid for. When the conten s of the bottle had been despatched, Clark requested to be supplied with another bottle, but accused said he hadn’t any more, as seven of his customers had been there already. He said he was qu te wi’ling, however, as they requested it, o supply them with ’iquor next day. and i was then arranged that they should meet behind a, stable in Victoriastreet. They met again at the appointed t'me, and accused produced more liquor, which was paid for. Further liquor was supplied the same evening, and was also paid for. Constable Clark, in reply to Mr Hackett, admitted that after the liquor was supplied on the first occasion, he represented that he had come down from the King Country, and was “ dying for a drink.” Mr Hackett: Which, of course, was a lie ? Witness : Yes. Gilman denied having received any payment from the police for his services, or that he had been promised any. The fur her hearing of the case was adjourned until Thursday next in order to enab e the defendant to procure evidence. A charge of selling liquor without a license on December 28 was also preferred against a man named John Sheehan, who pleaded not guilty. Gillman, the witness in the previous case, staed that on proceeding to a house in Federal-street, in company with Constable Clark, shortly after 10 p.m. on the 28th, they saw accused and requested to be supp ied w-th a bottle of whisky. This was duly brought in, and was paid for. The further hearing of this case was also adjourned until to-day.

A VERY IMPORTANT POINT

Attention was drawn by Mr C. C. Kett’e. S.M , during the hearing of an assault case at the Police Cour, on Saturday, to the taking ol statements by constables. It was. he said, most desirable, in the interests of justice, that the original statements of witnesses and others, if taken down by constables in writing, shou’d be carefully preserved, as it was of en necessary to have them produced in Cour’. It was also des'rab’e that such statements, if in writing, should be carefuly read over to, and signed by the person making the same, when practicab’e. Later in the hearing there was. a little passage at arms between the magistrate and Sergeant Hendry, who was conducting the case for the prosecution, over the production of one of these statements. A lady, while giving evidence, stated that

she had made a statement to the constable, which was read over to her, and which, if produced, she could identify. Mr Kettle asked if the statement was in Court, and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, requested Sergeant Hendry to produce it. Sergeant Hendry : Before doing so will Your Worship say that it will not go into the hands of Mr Lundon (defending counsel) ?

Mr Kettle: lam saying nothing. I ask you to produce it. Sergeant Hendry : Well, in that case I must respectfully decl ne to produce i:. Mr Kettle : Very well then. I shall adjourn the Court. Sergeant Hendry then said he was quite wi ling to allow Mr Ke'tle to peruse the sta ement, but he objected to the book going into the hands of counsel, as there were other matters in it which were absolutely confidential. A comprom’se was then effected, the magistrate binding down the leaves of the notebook with e astic bands so as to leave loose onlv those pages relating to the statement. The statement was then copied by the clerk, and the notebook handed back to the constable. Sergeant Hendry protested that the statement was not evidence, bu the magistrate ru ed otherwise, and sa’d he would always do so until over-ruled by the Supreme Court. He thought that the matter should be taken to the Supreme Court to have i decided once and for al'. Sergeant Hendry’s objection was noted in the depositions.

WHERE TEA IS EXPENSIVE.

A good story comes to he Vast from the King Country about the experience of two detectives in that land of the sly grogseller. Thev were af.er a man who sold cold tea at ha’f a sovereign a bottle and the de ectives were sent up to do what they could to discourage him. Unfortunately for them the sly grog-sel : er knew their vocation, and when one pleaded tearfully for some brandy to ease his great pain the liquor was suppl ed as a gift and every tender of monev was refused. The detec Ives’s pain passed off, and a chat on dryness fol’owed. One detect’ve remarked that he had heard there was an excellent brand of co’d tea to be bought from their host at half a sovereign a bottle. The host admitted he had such a fluid, bu' 'ts price was now per bottle. The detective gladly paid over his pound and received in return a bottle containing someth "ng that looked like brandy. Then he and his companion rode 63 mi’es to ouT a summons. To make sure of their case they had the bottle opened and tested before the magistrate of whom they were seek’ng the summons. Its contents were exactly what hev had been represented to be by the seller —cold tea —and the summons is still unsigned.

THE LICENSING QUESTION. A NIGHT AT THE MILDMAY RADICAL CLUB. “A TRIANGULAR DUEL.” (By Our Special Commissioner.) (Concluded from last week.) THE CASE FOR THE CLUBS. Mr B. T. Hall, who received quite an ovation on rising, said that he did not see that he was in ctie debate at all, as both the previous speakers had refrained from saying much about clubs. That was a triangular duel, as he expected it would be; but as two of the opponents had placed their guns in position against each other, and had not aimed at him, he felt that he could but leave them to fight the matter out between themselves. The title of the debate was, “ The Licensing Question —what should Parliament do?” Well, so far as clubs were concerned, his advice to Parliament was to do nothing. The law passed in 1902 had placed in the hands of the authorities ample power to remove any club from the regis.er that was calculated to be an injury to the State, and therefore nothing else was required or demanded. They had heard that since 1904 over 3,000 licenses had been extinguished, and it had of.en been stated by public speakers and in the Press that for every license, that wen: out of existence a club ‘was started. Such a statement was absolutely incorrect. As a matter of fact, during the past six years, on.y 309 new clubs had been added co the register, and these included cricket clubs, dining clubs, and canteens. (A voice: “ Book clubs.”) No, he did not th nk they needed registering. If there was any further taxation of clubs then of course the clubs would have to get the money out of their members in some way or other. He might also add that it would be ex.remely unwise to give the magis rates any further power over c.ubs. The chairman then invited questions from the audience, and some puzzlers, as well as some of the most ridiculous, were put forward. ‘‘ Does Mr Newton chink tha. by abolishing public houses he will put down drunkenness ” was one of the questions asked. ‘‘He does not,” was Mr Newton’s reply. “ No, no': while I am a.ive, ” was the retort of the questioner.

MR ALDERMAN JOHNSON AND THE ‘‘LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE.” Amongst the questions which were fired off in rapid succession was one having reference to this paper. Mr Johnson was asked whether he agreed vyi-h the views of the “ Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette.” In reply he said: —I am in no way responsible for what appears in the “ Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette.” Whatever opinions, are expressed in that paper are no doubt the honest views of the gentlemen who write them, but we do riot; claim that it particularly represents the Trader I occasionally see the paper, and as far as I know there is no difference between us except this—that newspaper considers that in my public actions with regard to the Trade I do not go far enough, that I am not violent enough against oUr opponents. Well, that may be. We all have our way of setting about our work, but I do not think we shall help, the Trade, nor do I think the other side would advance their cause by vituperating each other. That is the only difference.: I have never known the Editor take

exception otherwise. He simply does not think I treat our opponents severe y enough. (Mr Edward Johnson is quite right when he says that the objective of the Centra’: Board is identical with that of the “ Li-

censed Victuallers’ Gazette ”; the raison d’etre of both is to advance the interests of the Trade. But our readers will observe that he somewhat misrepresents, doubtless unintentionally, our attitude towards himself as chairman of the Central

Board. That we do not think that Association goes far enough in its policy of combating the attacks of our enemies, is true enough, but we do not counsel him to be more vio ent nor to indu.ge

in vituperation. To be violent is one thing, and to be more energetic in defence of the Trade and in educating the public to a proper understanding of the Trade’s position, is quite another. We have thought, in the past, that the Central Board’s policy of sitting tight until the Government’s threat materalised, was a weak one, and one which encouraged our opponin s to believe that the Trade had neither the means nor the spirit to protect itself. But since the Central Board has issued its plan of campaign and announced its ntention of taking vigorous steps to frustrate the plans of the so-called Licensing Reform Party, the executive have our heart.est good wishes, and may depend upon get ing the utmost support we are ab e to g’-ve them in furtherance of their work. —Ed., L.V.G.)