THE POLL AND AFTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 985, 21 January 1909, Page 20

THE POLL AND AFTER.

Naturally the chief topic in trade circles during the week has been the resolutions which embody the reform of the conduct of Auckland licensed houses. That these reforms are the outcome of the adverse vote at the recent local option poll is quite clear. The vote in November was of such a nature that it became necessary for those engaged in the legitimate business of brewing and retailing to look round and try to ascertain the immediate causes, or probable causes, that ended in the registering of a reduction vote in Auckland city, with a no-li-cense vote that failed only by something short of 900. Despite the fact that at the present time and at the time of the local option poll, no house in the city electorate bore the brand of endorsement, and that the police reports were and have been for some time exceptionally good, we find that the voters are still dissatisfied, and it now remains to be seen if the reforms as resolved upon will meet with the approval of the moderate and rightthinking portion of the community. The out-and-out no-license voter we will not deal with, for the reason that not only is he or she in a hopeless minority, but that nothing less than the closing of all the licensed houses and the handing of the city over to sly-grog sellers and shebeens will satisfy them. The reform in the direction of the abolition of barmaids while pressing hardly on the many worthy ladies who now occupy these positions in hotels, is one which from time to time has been clearly indicated as desired by the more temperate voter, and also by the Licensing Committee, which is at present in office, and who also meet with the approval of the majority of the temperance societies in our city. The question of whether or not girls carry a refining influence in the business must go by the board. The committee, who, we take it. voice the views of their supporters, with one accord suggest such abolition. The abolition of private bars will, except in a few instances, have little or no effect on business. For many years past private bars have carried so few restrictions that they have been practically public bars. The raising of the age limit at which youths can be served with liquor from 18 to 20 years is a step which meets with our entire approval, and we have little doubt that it also meets with the approval of the entire licensed trade. Few there are who have not met the budding man of the world who, on the exuberance of a threepenny shandygaff, announces to the world that he is “ shikker,” and forthwith makes himself a public nuisance. The reform in the direction of prohibiting liquor drinking on the premises by women other than boarders, will be welcomed by many hotelkeepers, who at all times have discouraged in every way women customers. Admitting that the new rule will cause a certain amount of inconvenience to the respectable portion of women customers, we feel sure that they will speedily recognise that the reform has only been instituted with a view to exclude undesirables and remove the impression that has gone forth from police reports and licensing benches, that the women of Auckland use hotels for drinking purposes in larger numbers than in other cities in the Dominion. Altogether we congratulate the wholesale and retail trade in the earnest manner in which they have taken up the difficult problem of pleasing the public, and once it comes home to this same public that the Trade is sincere and earnest in its desire to conduct hotels in a manner which cannot fail to meet with the warm approval of every temperate man and woman, then we have little to fear for the stability and success of the Auckland trade.

The hearing of evidence in the petition in regard to the Ohinemuri local option vote last November commences in Waihi next Monday, the 25th inst.

A Press Association message from Wellington last week stated that a communication regarding the advisableness of an amendment in the existing Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, whereby the reduction clause shall be repealed, was received by the Hutt County Council from the Horowhenua County Council. It proposes that in any electorate where no-license is carried, the sale and control of such liquors may become vested in one or the whole of the local bodies within the electorate, or a board, elected by the people upon a petition signed by the same majority that carried nolicense, and endorsed by the majority of the councils, the net proceeds after providing for the relief of poverty, to be used in providing mental and physical recreation for the people of the electorate. The Horowhenua Council desired to call a meeting for the purpose of considering the question at Palmerston North, but the Hutt Council decided to take no action in the matter.

At Timaru Magistrate’s Court last Monday, Joseph Coburn, a rarecourse habitue, pleaded guilty to the theft of a bag containing £72 odd from the licensed booth at the Pleasant Point races on January 14. The booth was in charge of the licensee’s wife, who kept the cash in a bag alongside her. The back bar in the tent was open on two sides, and Coburn went behind the bar, on the excuse that he wished to hang up his overcoat, and hooked the bag away with his umbrella. He was committed for sentence ba'l of £2OO being allowed.

* * • * The Thames by-election takes place on the 28th inst.

The reform measures as resolved upon by the wholesale and retail trade of Auckland are to be carried into effect on February 1.

It has been cabled from London that the report of the Departmental Committee on the working of the Inebriates Act notes a decided failure to apply the provisions of the Act. It suggests that offenders be treated according to a graduated scale, beginning with measures of the mildest character, and increasing the stringency if leniency proves ineffectual. The committee also suggests some new methods of dealing with criminal inebriates. The committee further holds that no permanent settlement of the difficulty is possible except on a basis of State responsibility.

The stables and storeroom at the Albion Hotel, Shannon, with their contents, were destroyed by fire early last Saturday morning. The hotel had a narrow escape from destruction.

The hearing of the petition by the liquor party to upset the recent local option poll, at which no-license was carried in the Masterton electorate, was concluded last week. After the hearing of lengthy evidence the magistrates announced that the petition would be dismissed. The costs of counsel were allowed at 20 guineas, and witnesses’ expenses according to scale.

On a recent evening the Oamaru police raided the premises of J. Curran, tobacconist, to search for slygrog. Finding none they searched the storeroom of D. Gillies, grocer, adjoining Curran’s, and discovered 15 bottles of whisky in a case and a portmanteau. Gillies disclaimed any knowledge of the liquor being on his premises.

If the appetite of a man was as great in proportion to his size as that of the sparrow, he would eat a whole sheep for his dinner.

At a recent tobacco exhibition in London, some Havana cigars were shown which were quoted at £1 each.

License of the Railway Hotel, Drury, endorsed for selling liquor on Sunday last week. An appeal will be lodged.

Judges of the Supreme Court of the State of Washington have decided that the cigarette must go, having agreed that the anti-cigarette law enacted by the Legislature of 1907 is constitutional. This reverses a ruling by Judge E. H. Sullivan, of the Spokane County Superior Court, who declared it unconstitutional, from the fact that the title of the law is in conflict with its provisions. The decision of the upper court means it is unlawful to manufacture, sell or give away the paper rolls or “ the makings” in any part of the commonwealth. The “ coffin nails” were sold openly in Spokane pending the Supreme Court decision, and the effect of the enforcement of the law will be to send thousands of dollars to border towns in Idaho and Oregon, where cigarettes are not under the ban.

The Commercial Travellers’ Association at Dunedin recently carried a motion declining to fall in with the proposal of the Wellington conference to adopt the New Zealand Association independent of Australasia. It was further suggested that the Wellington and Auckland Associations should accept the United Association’s invitation to join its ranks extended to them at the Brisbane Conference, thus completing the chain of organisation throughout Australasia.

The lessee of the Mansion House at Kawau, that island of historic interest to Aucklanders, was fined £5O last Thursday for selling liquor without a license. Liquor has been sold frequently at this island, it being more or less a common belief, shared, unfortunately, by the present lessee, that the island was not subject to the Licensing Act of New Zealand. This belief was supported from the fact that the island was an Imperial grant to the late Sir George Grey. The magistrate (Mr. R. W. Dyer) decided otherwise. The evidence in the case was supplied by the police officers, who stayed at the house as boarders, and were treated as such by the host, whose misplaced hospitality has now cost him £5O.

The “ Wairarapa Times” states that it is very probable that more will be heard regarding the Masterton licensing poll. The evidence adduced at the hearing of the petition brought to light two or three irregularities in putting people on the roll who were not entitled to vote. After the Court has made its report, it is quite on the cards that the Registrar of Electors will be instructed to institute proceedings against the persons concerned.

Hop beer that contained a larger percentage of alcohol than is permitted by the Act, caused J. W. Murray to appear before Mr. Widdowson at Taumarunui last Thursday. After evidence had been heard that Murray had in his possession the too strong beverage. a fine of £5 and costs was inflicted.

An ardent follower once urged Sir Wilfrid Lawson, temperance reformer and wit. to use his influence to stop what he termed the pernicious custom of using champagne for the christening of new vessels. Sir Wilfrid disagreed, and said that, on the contrary, a good temperance lesson might be drawn from the practice. “ How can that be ?” demanded the other. “Well,” replied the baronet, “ after the first taste of wine the ship takes to water, and sticks to it ever after.” In the local court last Friday a charge was brought against Mr. J. S. Palmer, the licensee of the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, Symonds-street, for refusing lodgings to two men-o’-wars-men. The case was dismissed. Mr. Cotter raising the point that it had not been proved that the men were travellers, within the meaning of the \ct. • • • • It is reported from Cambridge that the officers of the No-License League for the Tauranga electorate (the headquarters of which are at Cambridge) have already commenced operations in anticipation of the next licensing poll, and are working almost as vigorously now as they were just prior to the election. • • • « Auckland brewers, wine and spirit merchants and licensed victuallers have adopted resolutions, including the eventual abolition of barmaids and private bars, raising the age limit to which youths can be served with liquor to 20 years, and prohibiting the sale of liquor in hotels for consumption on the premises by women who are not boarders. » » * • At Taumarunui last week a man named Geo. Hall was convicted before Mr. Widdowson, S.M., of keeping liquor for sale. He was fined £5O and £5 costs. J. W. Wilson also was fined £5 and costs for introducing liquor into a Maori kainga. A B « • Judgment was given by Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., last week in respect to a charge of selling liquor on Sunday, November 28, preferred against Hariette Dingle, licensee of the Railway Hotel at Drury, and heard at Papakura on Tuesday. The case for the prosecution, Mr. Dyer stated, was supported by the evidence of an independent witness, and a conviction was recorded. A fine of £lO. with £3 Ils costs, was imposed, while the license was ordered to be endorsed. The question had arisen as to whether it was contrary to precedent to convict on the evidence of one witness, and for the purposes of appeal security for costs would be fixed at £25. Mr. Reed, counsel for defendant, intimated that an appeal would be lodged. Mr. Shera appeared on behalf of the Crown Prosecutor. (We understand that the Railway Hotel is situate in the Manukau electorate, which carried reduction of licenses at the last local option poll.) * » • V The hotel at Towai had a narrow escape from fire last Thursday night, and was only saved with great difficulty. A fire broke out near the hotel and destroyed a general store, including the post office, cart shed, and an old hall.

The police authorities at Gisborne have been inforined of the father mysterious disappearance of a young lady employed as a housemaid at the Masonic Hotel. The young lady left the hotel on Tuesday evening, and up till a late hour on Friday night no trace of her whereabouts had been discovered, although diligent search was made. The missing young woman only arrived from Auckland a short time ago, and up to the time of her disappearance had carried out her duties in a most satisfactory manner to her employers, who are utterly at a loss to account for her absence. Her clothing was left untouched in her room, and there were absolutely no indications of premeditated flight. The young woman is 28 years of age, sft 7in in height, and is described as being of good figure and general appearance. Communications have been sent to Auckland and Napier, as it is thought that she may have been a passenger by either of the boats which left Gisborne on Wednesday.

A man named David Lancing Huston was charged in the local police court last Friday with having stolen a fivepound note belonging to a boarder in the Star Hotel, Albert-street. On the following day further charges of being possession of house-breaking implements were brought against the accused, a bag being "ound among his possessions wh’ch contained a number of tools, including a pick-lock or master key. After hearing the evidence, which' included that of the licensee, who stated that on the night of January 1 three bedrooms had been entered, accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. On the first charge a remand was granted. • • • •

Tn the local police court last Thursday, a man named R. J. Sullivan, who had been boarding at the Wayerley Hotel was fined 20s, with the alternative of seven days in gaol, for stealing a gold pin, the property of Mr. Maurice O’Connor, the licensee of the hotel.

Up at Waipu some little trouble, which appears to be of long standing, has been brought to light at a meeting of the Presbytery last week. A portion of the congregation in those carts wish for. among other things, the removal of the Rev. W. Thompson. One of the charges laid at His door is that he opposed the no-license movement. In reply to this a Commission, set up to inquire into the matters of discussion, says that it is simply monstrous that any minister in this Church (Presbyterian) should be denied liberty to advocate what he believes to be the right policy.*

The Northside (Jamaica) planters are indignant at the allegations made by Dr. Piraula regarding Jamaica rum. This distinguished chemist recently visited the West Indies on behalf of the French Government to report on the methods of rum manufacture prevailing there, and on his return he referred to the German ram made on the Northside as “ stynkmg rum” To this the planters took exception. They laid a statement on the subject before the Governor, who promised to represent the mattei to the Home Government. * * * *

A Wairarapa visitor to Wellington relates that he had his pocket picked in a very smart manner when standing in a crowd at Wellington the other day, reports the Wairarapa “ Daily News.” He had one hand m his trousers pocket, where he had four or five loose notes, and was on guard against his pockets being picked. Presently someone standing near him gave him a slight poke in the neck with a stick. This caused him to turn sharply round and withdraw his hand from his pocket. A l ™ oBl once he felt a draught on his leg, and making examination found his garment had been slit, and the pocket cut clean out. His loose notes had vanished. -

At an early hour one morning last week the Victoria Hotel at Glenore, near Milton, was totally destroyeu by tire. The building, which was erected in 1862, was owned and occupied by Mrs Stenhouse as a public house, store, post office and telephone office. The outbreak was discovered about 3.30 a.m., it having apparently originated in the parlour. The inmates_ four in number, had to make a hurried exit, very little being saved. The building was insured for £250, and the stock for £350, but the owner is understood to be a heavy loser. All the mail and postal matter in the building was destroyed, and the Mount Stuart Road Board, which used a portion of the building as an office, lost many survey records, maps etc.

The proprietor of a small restaurant at New Cross, a suburb of London, was the other day fined 20s with a shilling costs, for selling Australian wine as Burgundy. The wholesale firm who had supplied him, admitted that the bottles had been labelled in error.

Tenders have been called for painting work at the Empire and the Albion Hotels.

“ Beer,” said a sententious Salford guardian, “ must be either good or bad. There is no compromise. It is like a wife.”

Rum, to the extent of 420 000 gallons, was purchased for the Navy last year, according to a statement made by the First Lord of the Admiralty. In 1907 120,000 gallons were consumed, and the year before, 400 000 gallons.

According to the Nelson “ Evening Mail’s ’, correspondent, hop crops at Upper Moutem will be only a small one. It is described as “ backward and straggling” and not more than 75 per cent, of the usual quantity is expected.

The premium of £lOO offered by the Napier Working Men’s Club for plans for a new building to cost not more than £lO,OOO, has been won by Mr Louis Hay, of Napier. The committee placed the plans of Mr J. H. Burr, of Wellington, second, and those of Messrs Rush and James, of HasTngs. third.

Spurious shillings are doing duty for the genuine coins in Gore just now. A resident (reports the ‘ Standard ) had one tendered him as change, on New Year’s Eve. The fake consists of a wad of cardboard of similar thickness to a shilling, covered with silver paper and stamped on the obverse and reverse the same as the sterling coin. At night, in the artificial light the keenest observer may be deceived with the paper shilling when laid on the counter or given along with other silver change. The fraud becomes at once evident when handled alone.

The Sultan of Turkey is very particular concerning the quality of his cigarettes, which occordingly have to be made in a small factory in the Royal Palace itself. Some half-dozen workmen are daily engaged, and Turkish-grown tobacco is raised specially for the Sultan’s use. The best crops in the country are marked for his special benefit, and what is not actually selected for making into cigarettes must be destroyed. A hun-dred-weight of leaves may be turned over before a pound sufficiently fine is found.