THE COMPENSATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1004, 3 June 1909, Page 20

THE COMPENSATION QUESTION.

HOW THE ENGLISH LAW WORKS OUT.

The following from “ The Licensed Victuallers Gazette and Hotel Courier ” shows how the English Licensing law is working out: —“We have always maintained and there is ample evidence to prove that a reduction in the number of licensed houses does not necessarily mean a diminition of drunkenness. The faddists, however, who hold the opposite view ought really to look upon members of the Trade as the “ saviours of mankind,” for they are fast contributing to their own extinction. They are, in fact, doing a work which should be done by the country. We have had a hazy notion of the amount contributed by the Trade towards the extinction of licenses since the passing of Mr. Balfour’s Act. The volume of statistics published during the week supplies the exact figures- It appears that in the four years, 1905-8, a total sum of £4,378,818 was received by the compensation authorities, and £3,545,452 was paid out in compensation

for 4,056 licenses. Let it be distinctly understood that the whole of this money was supplied by the Trade. Not one pennypiece came out of the pockets of the public. Thus it will be seen on the authority of the Government that the Trade is contributing over one million sterling a year for the extinction of licenses which have been going out of existence at the rate of 1,335 a year during this period. There were in existence on January Ist last in England and Wales only 95,517 on-Tcenses, and 24,924 off-licenses, which taken together give a proportion of 34.07 licensed premises for every 10,000 of the population. It is ridiculous to expect that the present average annual decrease should continue for years to come. There must soon come a time when it will be advisable, not to say necessary, to call —“halt”!