TRADE TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1021, 30 September 1909, Page 20

TRADE TOPICS.

The New South Wales Licensed Victuallers Association is issuing sets of Picture Postcards, a striking example of which is reproduced by our Sydney contemporary “ Fair Play.” It tells its own story very effectively. Headed “ Vote Continuance ” it shows two pictures, one of a closed country hotel, outside of which a little family group of pedestrians—wayfarers evidently in search of accommodation —are look-ing-up at the sign, over which is printed the word “ Closed,” while the other picture represents the reception room of a lordly hotel in a fashionable neighbourhood in which a gentleman is taking his ease in a padded arm chair while an obsequious lackey waits upon him with the liquid refreshment which he has ordered.

Mr. Fiank Holder, late of the Railway Hotel, Waipawa, has, we understand, purchased Mr. J. Berryman’s interest in the lease, furniture and stock in trade of the Provincial Hotel, Napier.

The Christchurch Licensing Committee have placed the license of Cohen’s Hotel in a very curious position, by rescinding its decision, granting Mr. H. Thompson, (the licensee) permission to transfer his public bar from Manchester Street to George Street. The Committee was asked by certain residents of George and other streets, to reconsider its decision, and, at a special meeting convened to deal with the case, the chairman informed the licensee that after careful consideration of the petition, and after having heard evidence and inspected the locality and the premises, the committee was of opinion that a public bar should not be placed in George street, and the permission granted to place one there would be withdrawn. The licensee asked what his position would be. He had sublet a portion of his premises in Manchester Street, containing the public bar on that street. The Chairman replied that this was the first the committee had heard of any such contract, and had been clearly given to understand by Mr. Kesteven at its last meeting that nothing had been done which would prejudice the licensee if the case were heard de novo..

The practice of “ touching glasses ” in drinking healths is said to have originated when Prince Charles passed over into France after the failure of the expedition of 1715 and his supporters were beset on every hand with spies. It so happened that in society they were necessitated to drink the king’s health, but it was tacitly understood among them that “ the king ” was not King George but “ the king over the water.” To express this symbolically one glass was passed over another and later on the foot of one glass was touched to the rim of another. .

A number of kegs of beer containing from two to five gallons each, in all approximately 25 or 30 gallons, which were consigned to Waihi residents, have been seized by the police, and it is understood that prosecutions will follow, on the ground that they were not labelled or branded according to the requirements of the law. * * RC * For the second time within about twelve months the Cheltenham Hotel, Feilding, has been destroyed by fire, the second catastrophe taking place on Thursday night. In the middle of last year- the building was completely gutted at midnight one night, the occupants narrowly escaping, and the lessee, Mr. S. W. R. Evans, losing heavily. The new building, containing twenty-five rooms, was finished in April of this year, and had been leased to Mr. R. W. Beadnail. About 8.30 on Thursday, the new premises were discovered to be on fire upstairs, and the strongest efforts on the part of the proprietor and others failed to check it. The whole building was completely destroyed, and very little of the contents were saved. Mr. Beadnall’s two little children were asleep upstairs, and were with difficulty taken out, and other boarders upstairs clambered down the fire escape. A small part of the stock was saved, but none of the furniture. Mrs Beadnail rescued the till from the bar, and willing helpers got the safe out. The hotel furniture was insured for £5OO, but Mr. Beadnail did not have his personal effects covered. The building was the property of Mr. E. J. Riddiford.

Mr. J. T. Gray, late of the Anchor Hotel, takes over the license of the Globe Hotel, Papakura, and Mrs. Smith’s interest in the house this week. As a Committeeman and leading member of the A.L.V.A., Mr. Gray has come to be recognised as one of the best business men in the Trade, and has obtained a reputation which is certainly second to that of no other hotelkeeper in the Province. He has scores of friends who will wish him success in his new venture, and, with ourselves, we are sure they will be pleased to hear of his success.

It is stated that, at Wellington, particulars have been obtained of the amount of liquor sent into the Wellington South and Wellington Suburbs “ No-License ” districts, but no detailed information is available for publication. If Parliament requires it, however, Mr. Holmes, Clerk of Courts’, says registers have been so well kept up to date recently by means of a new system introduced by the Justice Department, that precise details of every order sent into any or all of the nolicense districts in the Dominion could be furnished on a few hours’ notice. But what a nice state of affairs we have here! Supposing Mr. T. E. Taylor, or some equally rabid “ Prohibitionist ” was to move for and obtain such a return, and the names of every resident who obeys the pauline doctrine to “ take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake,” with the quantities of liquor he has ordered were to appear on a Parliamentary paper, what a howl of astonished indignation would go forth to the world. Yet such a thing may quite concernably happen under our beautiful “ NoLicense ” law.

Mr. Alexander Johnston has disposed of his interest in the Empire Hotel to Mr. W. G. Rae, who has for some time past been on the West Coast. Mr. Rae has already taken possession and we understand that Mr. Johnson is shortly leaving for Sydney on a holiday trip. His many friends will join with us in wishing him a pleasant time.

According to Mr. Holmes, clerk of the Licensing Committee, No-License in Wellington South and Wellington Suburbs, is working out satisfactorily, so far as strict. observance of the law is concerned. That statement is, however, hardly borne out by the facts as raids upon sly grog sellers,

and prosecutions for breaches of the law, follow upon one another in Wellington in quick succession, one man being fined £3O on two charges of unlawfully selling liquor, while six others for unlawfully dealing in liquor on unlicensed premises” were fined, one man £2, and the five others £1 each, costs being given against each defendant. The convictions were obtained on the evidence of two probationary constables, who themselves broke the law by asking and paying for the liquor supplied. But theirs of course is a virtuous action in the eyes of those who administer the law.

Commonsense is visibly stamped upon the opinion given by Mr. Justice Chapman at Wellington, on Monday, when, in a declaratory judgment, His Honor ruled that section 17 of the Beer Duty Act, 1908, did not prohibit publicans who buy beer in casks from brewers, with stamp duty stamps duly affixed and cancelled, from selling thereafter such beer in jars or casks in quantities from two gallons upwards. His Honor said he thought the whole statute might be referred to as a revenue Act, and not as a regulative Act. Its purpose was to ensure the collection once, and only once, and to ensure the collection of that duty from brewers only. It was not intended to impose a restrictive obligation on publicans beyond those imposed by the Licensing Act, 1 908. The judgment was rendered necessary by the action of certain Customs and Excise officers, who thought otherwise and were instructing proceedings against hotelkeepers for alleged breaches of the law as interpreted by themselves.

There was to have been "a sound of revelry by night” at Waihi, in connection with certain marriage festivities, for which an 18 gallon keg of beer had been ordered. But, alack and ales, an unsympathetic limb of the law spied the keg and impounded it by virtue Of the “No-License” law, and somebody is to be proceeded against for a breach of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. Quite a number of other charges are also tobe preferred against other residents of Ohinemuri at the next Court sitting. Such are the joys of “NoLicense.”

Dr. Findlay sees no reason to interfere with the wholesale liquor licenses, granted by the Taumarunui Licensing Committee in the King Country. At the time the licenses were granted, there was a certain amount of outcry on the question, and comment madeupon the fact that the licenses had been granted as a result of the chairman (who belongs to the magistracy) having given his deliberate and casting vote in favour of the proposal. Numerous requests were forwarded to the Government, with a view to having the matter brought before the Supreme Court,. so that the license might, if possible, be quashed. Upon investigating the validity of the grant of the licenses, the Attorney-General the Hon. (Dr. Findlay), announced that he was satisfied that the whole question turned upon whether the area affected was native land at the time of the issue of the proclamation. The point should, he thought, be referred at once to the Surveyor-Gen-eral for settlement, jtf they were not native lands at the time, then it was quite clear that no Court could disturb the grant of the license. If, however, the land embraced by the proclamation was native land at the date of its issue, then the licenses were granted illegally, even if portions of the land had since ceased to be native land. Dr. Findlay now states that, it was found, after careful investigation by the Survey Office, that at the time of the issue of the proclamation the lands wherein the licenses were granted were not native lands. In view of that fact proceedings could not be taken (as otherwise would certainly have been the case) to attack: the grant of the licenses.

“No-License”' Conventions are being held air over the country. That he.d at Foxton on Thursday of la<t week, resblved that hygiene and scientific temperance instruction should be made a compulsory subject in the primary schools from S andard 111. upwards; that the alliance executive be urged to give earnest consideration to the best methods of securing temperance instruction in schools; that the convention expresses pleasure in reference to organisation work done prior to the last licensing poil. At a public meeting held subsequently further resolutions were carried. It was resolved: ” Taat in the opinion of this meeting the tower oL Dominion option in relation to the granting of liquor licenses should Le enacted without de.ay.” “ That every issue on the licensing question, local and Dominion, be determined by the majority of those who vote, and that this meeting appeals to the Government and Parliament to secure the ear.y enactment of those popular rights.” A resolution was also passed condemning the action of the chairman of the Tau marunui Licensing Committee in giving his deliberate and casting vote in favour of wholesale licenses in xhe King Coun.ry, thus viclating a solemn ■compa.t between the Government and the Maori people, and also urging the Government to bring the matter before the Supreme Court with a view to ■quashing the license-s granted. WHY IT IS UPPLSKD. A PROHIBITION QUESTION ANS vVERED. An American paper, Detroit “Truth,” has the lo.iowing:— One of the favorite arguments o. the prohibitioniots, anu wnich they triumphantly bring lur.n as uuasswerabie, rs the Vvliy the liquor men oppose prohibition it it uoes not prohibit?” Notwithstanding the conndence ot the prohibitionists in this argument, a little reflection can reauuy retute it, and demonstrate that the position of the liquor men is entirely logical. Even though prohibition fails to prohibit, by its very nature it casts the imputation of illegality on the methods of trade that spring up in its wake and drives the business into hands that will adapt themselves to this illegitimate trade. The liquor men, while they could make as much, if not more, gain than before, naturally do not wish to see their business under a ban, and re.egated into the hands of those who are not subjected to regulation or restriction. As citizens of the community in which they no business, they do not believe in introducing an element that will disrupt society and tend to demoralisation, on the one hand, and to espionage and persecution on the other. They see the manifold evils that ensue where prohibition is attempted, and oppose it on the general ground of the public good, as well as on the ground of interference with their business, which, from being legitimate, is stamped with illegitimacy under the new regime of prohibition. It is weil known, also, that the quality of the liquors vended deteriorate under prohibition, while the quantity rather increases than otherwise, and aiso the use of deleterious drugs increases, so that the last state of the community is infinitely worse than the first. All these considerations and many others equally potent influence the liquor men to oppose the introduction of a system which seeks to substitute a legitimate and regulated traffic, by abandoning all regulation and relying on the fiat of a bare majority to alter tastes and habits of a lifetime. They can make even more money under prohibition, but prefer to do business under the aegis of legitimacy.— “ Truth,” Detroit. WHAT STATISTICS PROVE. A SOUTH AFRICAN OBJECTLESSON. “ You can prove anything from statistics” is a common enough remark, and judging from a blue book recently issued it would also appear (says the Capetown correspondent of the London “ Licensed Victuallers' Gazette and Hotel Courier”) that you can prove anything from the reports of our Resident Magistrates. Sundry men and sundry newspapers have been drawing conflicting conclusions from some reports on the liquor trade, licensed and otherwise, but one thing only do these reports prove, as I will proceed to state after a few brief extracts from the reports themselves on the working of the very stringent regulations as to the supply of liquor to natives, the natives that are natives, and not the coloured individu-

als with a glaze of civilisation whom we term ” Cape Boys.” In the Ade.aide district, says the reton, the nines Liquor Act is not in lune, but in .190 7 only 15 cases of drunkenness were tried and 33 in 190 8, which number cannot be taken as excessive considering the number of naives who visit the town. The xiamber of cases of Kaffir beer-mak-ing was 22 in 190 7 and 16 in 1908. in Albany the Act is in force, and is sta.ed to be working satisfactori.y. In Aliwal North there are restrictions, and very few cases of drunkenness have occurred. In Bedford there were only 12 cases last year, but as all convictions refer to drunkenness in public places, the R.M. draws no conclusions as to whether drunkenness is increasing or decreasing, for he considers that the illicit manufacture of beer from prickly pears and from honey goes on to a considerable extent. Drunkenness has decreased, but this the magistrates put uown to lack of money as much as to stringent regulations. Considerable facilities are afforded in neighbouring districts, liquor is thus imported ircm ou side and brought into ihe awe lings, but without resulting in serious crimes. At East London

the licensed houses are reported on as well-conducted, and no complaints have been made by the public as to illicit sales. At Glen Grey the great trouble complained of is that natives who are not registered voters liquor through the intermediary of those that have tne franchise. At Hay, where the LLeming Court has not imposed the restrictions on the sale to natives, “ strange to say,” says the K.M., “ there has been little or no drunkenness, and crime has decreased. ’ At Herschel there is much i.licit dealing, anj. it i_- likely to continue; registered voters can get as much liquor as they like, and do get it in rnrge quantities, piobably disposing of part of it to those who have not the privilege of being voters. At Jansenville the restrictions have resulted in very little drunkenness amongst natives, and similar reports come from o her isolated districts; in other places larger and more accessible the reverse seems to be the case; in Queenstown, for example, no less than 223 natives were convicted for making or possessing Kaffir beer, but this number was a substantial decrease from former years. In Stellenbosch, a grape district, drunkenness and riolous behaviour is common amongst the natives who are not dependent on the trader for their supply. At Uitenhag* th* restrictions have not had any good effect, for the registered voter gets the suddlv for himself and friends, and there is an increase in the illicit brewing of Kaffir beer, Dante, and honey beer. More extracts might be given, although this particular blue book by no means exhausts the whole of the Colony, but one definite conc.usion, and one only, can be drawn. That is, the native bent on a drink will get it or will make it, honestly if he can, but get it somehow. And even in the wine districts, where he can beg, borrow or steal liquor, restrictions on the sale of it have made the native no better if no worse. The conclusion that the representatives of the wine farmers will inevitably draw from these reports will be that the natives should be allowed to obtain the produce of their vines in moderation and under proper regulations. Their case is a strong one unless their opponents are prepared to say that the illicit productions are more wholesome than the genuine grape-juice. “ THE STATE A SLEEPING PARTNER.” Whether the Government like the term or not, there is no getting over the fact (says “The Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette ”) that the Trade is already a sleeping partner in the licensed trade. What the Chancellor of the Exchequer wants to do is to take all the profits. He is reminded that through the Trade considerably over a quarter of the total Exchequer receipts from tax revenue is derived. Taking two large London breweries, the London Brewers’ Association shows to what extent the State derives revenue through them. These two breweries paid to their debenture, preference, and ordinary shareholders last year the sum of £264,939; they paid in duties to the State £507,000. The proposals of the Finance Bill will increase the share taken by the State by another £lOO,OOO. In the Times of June 15th the Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking to an Irish deputation, is reported as having said that “ the monopoly value of English public-houses had gone up enormously during the last few years.” The Association points out that this is a serious misapprehension, and they say “ there can be no question that the

■ | : | \ license values of London public-hbusps' have enormously diminished -• in the last five years, and they are now at a lower ebb than for many years past. The only fair methods is to distribute the burdens in proportion to the trade done." * BEEBrDBINKING IN MUNICH. Patriotic Munich citizens are, according to a. correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, greatly grieved to learn from the municipal statistics that the consumption of beer in the city has decreased 29.9 per cent, since 1909. They recall, that famous year 1889, when' the city’s consumption of beer reached .5 25 litres. per head of the population, or 460 quarts. Last year this had fallen to 240 quarts. That Nuremburg now beats Munich by six quarts a head can be borne, but the Munichers are more concerned at finding that Berlin is gradually creeping, up to them, being now only a matter of eighteen quarts behind. There is some consolation in the fact that the Bavarians still ‘stand at the head of. all the German nationalities in beer- . drinking, having 211 quarts per head' to their credit; whilst the Prussians are a long way behind with a beggarly 87 quarts. And, whilst the beer consumption has been going down, statistics show that more milk is being drunk every year in Munich, so that the citizens are beginning to fear that the infant population is actually being nourished 'upon milk instead of the famous national beverage. - “THE PROMOTER." HOW HE GOT HOME. One bleak winter! morning a cold looking individual walked into a small cafe. “ Morning," he said, cheerily, addressing, himself, to the white-aproned attendant behind the oar. Morning,” was the reply. “ How’d you like a sherry and egg this morning?” continued the stranger. “ Well, that sounds very good to me. Are you going to treat?” “ I’ll furnish the eggs if you will contribute the sherry.” “ Done,” agreed the proprietor. “ All right.. I’ll be back in a minute,” the frosted one called over his shoulder, as he walked towards the door. Into the street and around the corner he made his way and halted before a grocery store where the clerk was sweeping the steps. “ Morning,” he said, good-naturedly, “ Morning,” came the reply. “ A little raw this morning,” he persued. “ Yep;” “ How’d a sherry and egg go this morning?” he asked, rubbing some heat into his hand. “ Best thing I’ve heard to-day,” answered the clerk, interested. “ Tell you what I’ll do,” the stranger continued. ‘‘l’ll furnish the sheiry if you’ll furnish the eggs.” “ Sure.”

I!j'i \ < • ! \ j“ All Bight., Trot opt three bggs and \ follow me.” ; i ; | ’■ And the stranger led the way back to the cafe. “ Here’s the eggs,” he announced to the proprietor. “-H CTe ’ g - t h e -sb'erry," repli6d*thA“ proprietor, mixing the drinks. “ Here’s how!” the three exclaimed in unison, and they drank the concoction and replaced the glasses on the bar. “ By the way,” said the proprietor to the grocery clerk, “ you contributed the eggs, didn’t you?” “ Yep,” said the clerk, smacking his lips. “ And I furnished the sherry, didn’t I?” “ Yep.” “ Well, then,” turning to the stranger, how’d you get in this deal?” “ Why, gentlemen,” replied the stranger, as he bowed his way out, “ my position is easily explained. I’m the' promoter.”—Lippincott’s.” THE LIVELY CHEESES. ‘ ' I . r t. . — . J ; — Hussein Kiazim Bey, the new Turk- ’ dsh. ambassador, discussed cooking at a dinner in Washington. “Your cooking is better than ours,” he said. " Still, there are some things in it. I decidedly dislike. I dislike, for instance, ‘ hung ’ game—game kept until it smells like cheese. “ And your cheese itself—l mean your more expensive cheese —the kind with mold in it —it isn’t very “ I cracked a joke about your cheese at a luncheon. “ ‘ Do you prefer with your apple pie Roquefort or Limburger?’ said my host.” ’ Let them.race across the table to me, and 111 take the winner,” said I.” “ NO WAN WOULD TOUCH ’ EM.” Jackson (whose boots have not been cleaned): I say, waiter, I left my boots outside the door last night and they have not been touched.” Walterz... "'.Make your.. .mind., aisy, sorr; ye cud lave yer gold watch and chain outside an’ no. wan wud touch ’em.” A GERMAN VIEW OF PROHIBITION. American dude to hotel waitress in Prohibition State: " Just give'me half a glass of cold tea, with two beaten eggs and a small bottle of eau de co.ogne”—’‘Simplicissimus.” CENTENARIAN’S ADVICE. “ EAT, DRINK AND SMOK.E ” ALL YQU WANT. Alexander Herriott, the oldest man in Yonkers—he boasts 107 years—- ■ ays there is no reason why a man shouldn’t live to be at least 100, and perhaps 12 5 150. " My theory just to eat and drinkand smoke all you want, and live outdoors all you can, and take long walks, and never let yourself get

excited or worried," he said. “ I’ve followed that course all my life, and I ain’t been sick a day since. I had the measles, when ,1 was a little shaver running around the streets of Berwick-on-the-Tweed, in Scotland, where I was born. “ It’s worrying and getting excited that makes men old. It ain’t liquor—that is, good liquor—nor ’baccy, nor rich vittles; it’s worrying about things and losing your temper. Don’t fret about anything—that’s my motto—and if you have to fight don’t get hot over it, but fight cool and deliberate, and you’ll not only win the fight, but find your nerves in better condition after.” “ Don’t you think whisky drinking is bad for the system?” he was asked., “ No, siree,” he said. “ A quart a day won’t hurt a man, if he’s a regular man and it’s good. I’ve always noticed it’s the fellows that always ahollerih’ teetotalism that are pale and puny.”—Exchange. ■ The trades unions of South Dakota in a recent manifesto say: ‘‘We have our homes and families here and want to stay, but the adoption of the County Prohibition Bill will destroy our opportunities and that of thousands of others to earn a living in this State. W r e reaffirm our allegiance to that cardinal principle of jurisprudence, which assures equal rights to all and special privileges to none. We condemn this class legislation; we brand the proposed law not only unfair, but un-American; and we call upon the workingmen of South Dakota to lend their support to the defeat of this infamous and obnoxious measure, as its adoption would establish a dangerous precedent.” * * * * It is stated by the “ Chicago Tribune ” that the use of morphine in Maine has increased by 50 per cent, during the last ten years, and that this is attributed to the prohibition laws in force in that State. . * . ♦ « . The Georgia liquor law is not as stringent as some may have supposed. It allows liquor containing less than four per cent, of alcohol to be sold. According to the common understanding this would exempt a great deal of

beer and other drinks. When it comes to analysing drinks and determining per cents Georgia is finding the enforcement of law somewhat difficult. The opportunities for evasion are numerous.