TRADE TOPICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1097, 20 April 1911, Page 20

TRADE TOPICS

During his absence from Auckland last week Mr. J. S. Palmer, President of the N.Z. L.V.A., contrived to visit Napier, Hastings, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Ormondville, Takapau, Dannevirke, Woodville and Palmerston North, and to consult with members of the Trade in each centre upon campaign matters. Palmer motored down to Palmerston from Napier and was thus able to see a great deal of the country, which he would have otherwise missed travelling by rail

Since the passing of the book--maker the average race meeting has taken on an air of funereal gloom, that orcibly reminds us of the old saying that Englishmen (for which please read New Zealanders) take their pleasures sadly. Ellerslie during the recent race meeting presented a spectacle too mournful almost for description. The pleasant banter, cheery witticisms and raucous utterances of the “bookies,” were sadly missed by the crowd, which seemed to divide its attention between the “ tote” and the bar. So far from the abolition of the bookmaker doing away with betting, it appeared to have increased the desire of the crowd to 'bet through the tote, the receipts for the three days of the Easter meeting being practically double what they were last year. Thus in. 1910 the Easter totalisator investments amounted to. £34,348 10s, whereas this Easter thev were 67.096 10s (£20,710 10s, “ against £ll,BlB on the .first day, £26.949 10s, against £12,992. on the second, and £19,445 10s, against £9,538 10s on the third day), or only £l6OO short of twice the amount invested last year. Again, the. unrecognised factor in. upsetting the., calculations of the Wowserite section of the community, is the impossibiilty of controlling the public in matters where they feel they, have every right to please themselves, and not be bound by what is termed in England, “the Nonconformist conscience.”

Visitors to Hamilton are reminded that Messrs. Dalgleish and McDonald have a well-deserved reputation for their up-to-date livery and bait stables. Coaches meet all trains, and special trips can be arranged to any part of the district. A telephone or telegraph message will receive prompt attention.

Important meetings of the Trade have been taking place in all parts of the Dominion during the last fortnight. As previously stated, Mr. J. S. Palmer met the members of the Trade in the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts at Napier on Monday week, the East Coasters rolling up well to the conference, for such it practically was. On the same day the West Coasters met at Marton, delegates attending from Taranaki downwards. In both cases campaign work in connection with the Option Polls, which are to be held next November, formed the basis of the discussions, the decisions arrived at being practically unanimous.

There is no more popular firm with the travelling public than that of Messrs. Harold J. Crowther and H. Alan Bell, whose livery and bait stables are stationed at Cambridge. They are both expert judges of horses, their bazaar in this connection being widely known. Coach trips are specially arranged for the convenience of the public, and saddle horses and vehicles of every description are always on hire. Commercial travellers will find their requirements catered for in a thoroughly up-to-date manner.

The extremes to which the advocates- of prohibition will go in their endeavour to find some argument against liquor—the consumption of which keeps on increasing merrily, despite their constant railings—is indeed remarkable, and was well exemplified in a paragraph which recently appeared in “The Home Journal,” the prohibition paper, regarding the recent disturbance at the trotting meeting at Alexandra Park. Evidently the writer of the paragraph was not present on the occasion of the riot, and it is quite plain that he has not interviewed anyone that was, else he would not have permitted himself to connect the riot with the licensing question. On perusing the paragraph in question, the average reader would be led to believe that the presence of the liquor booth was in no small measure responsible for the riot, than which no more ridiculous theory could be imagined. Those acquainted with the facts of the riot know that the disturbance was caused through an unsatisfactory start, and heavy investments on that particular race having been made on the totalisator and with the bookmakers, the crowd were naturally angry and decided to take a firm stand in the matter, with the result that racing had to be abandoned for the afternoon. But to connect the disturbance in any way with the granting of a license to sell liquor on racecourses is most absurd, as had the gathering been held under as “dry” conditions as the proverbial Nolicense rally it would have been utterly impossible to avert the display of public indignation.

Thus the “Ashburton Mail and Guardian”: —The taking of the triennial licensing poll, the proposed alteration of electoral boundaries, and the prospects of the no-license and license parties, are subjects that are just now being much discussed. It is stated from a reliable source that the licensed victuallers intend to conduct a quiet but vigorous campaign, and are already elated over the rumours of the proposed alteration of electoral boundaries- It has also been industriously circulated that,- if altered on the lines proposed, the new boundaries will cause consternation in the no-license camp. In any case, the no-license party is organising its forces,- and there is every reason to expect that the coming campaign will be fought on very keen and determined lines.

Considerable interest is being taken in the forthcoming Winter Show, to be held under the auspices of the / uckland A. and P. Association from May 22 to May 27 inclusive- It is probable that the display will surpass anything of the kind previously seen in Auckland- The districts’ court section will be a feature of the exhibition, Franklin, Tauranga, Whangarei end Kaipara competing, while Waitemata may also be included. The show — 11 be held in the “F” shed, Queen-•-s reet Wharf.

Messrs. Gwan Bros,, Willis-stfeet, Wellington, report having sold the lease, goodwill and furniture of the Princess Theatre Hotel, Wellington, to Mr. Thds. Palmer, late of Hokitika, Mr. Berti’s interest in the lease, goodwill, etc., of the Star Hotel, Addington, to Mr. Wingham, late of the Bluff; Mr. Guthrie’S interest in the lease, goodwill, etc., of the Methven Hotel, Methven, to Mr. T. Twomey, Ibte of Temuka; Mrs. Manson’s interest in the Ship Hotel, The Port, Nelson, to Mr, Claridge, late Of Wellington; the Telegraph Hotel, Otaki, to Mr- J. A. Coogan; Mr. Hammond’s interest in the lease and furniture of the Hunterville Hotel to Mr. Arthur Weeks, late of the Hibernian Hotel, Onehunga; Mr. Richard Turnbull’s interest in the Occidental Hotel, Palmerston North, to Mr. J. T. Midwood, late of the Masonic Hotel, Havelock; the lease, etc., of the Evening Star Hotel, Sydney, to Mr. James Farrel, of Sydney; the lease, etc., of the Tuggerah Lakes Hotel, Sydney, to Mr. Landy, of Sydney.

It was all over Main, the Prohibition State concerning which so many diverse and therefore palpably untrue statements are made by New Zealand Prohibitionists. And it occurred at Reefton, of all places in the world, on Good Friday night. The irrepressible and expletively forceful Tommy Taylor, M.P., was speaking and in his audience sat Mr. William Thompson, ex-Presbyterian Minister, who acted as the trade organiser three years ago. In the course of his remarks Mr. Taylor said the advertised statements as to' Maine, published on the eve of the last election were “absolutely false.” Mr. Thompson declaring them to be “absolutely true,” Mr. Taylor said the man who signed that advertisement knew it to be false. He whs an ex-parson who once had preached righteousness, and now worked for a traffic founded on vice. Mr’. Thompson resented the implication characterising Mr. Taylor as a “miserable coward,” and the vainglorious Tommy retorted “I never met this man before, but now I have him under the Whip.” And then the exchange of compliments began, Mr. Thompson branding the elect of North Christchurch as “a liar, a cad, and no gentleman,” and Mr. Taylor describing his opponent as “a renegade parson.” Things became more lively still when Mr. Thompson alleged that Mr. Taylor had connived at the escape of a certain person (whom he named) from justice—probably referring to the rumours that were circulated in Christchurch in 1906 in connection with the sudden departure of a well-known Methodist clergyman for Australia. Mr. Taylor thereupon challenged Mr. Thompson to put his charge in writing and declared that, if h$ did so, he. would proceed against him for slander. Commenting upon this meeting subsequently, Mr. Taylor declared it was “one of the most orderly he had ever addressed, and, save for the dispute with Mr. Thompson, which merely occupied 20 minutes, and to which he says far too such prominence was given, it was one of the most unanimous also, a motion in favour of National Prohibition being carried with only two dissentients.