HERE AND THERE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 19 December 1912, Page 24

HERE AND THERE.

The Federation of Labour is demanding that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice should enforce the law against the .employment of “unregistered barmaids” by hotel licensees. The first question that naturally arises when such a demand is made is “How is the law being broken, if it is being broken?” Apparently the Federation, which during the currency of the Waihi strike was ready to fling all law and order to the four winds, in order that it might dragoon into its ranks every worker who believed in the maintenance of law, only agrees with its enforcement when it has nothing to gain by its violation. What the public would like to know, however, is: (1) “Is the law being broken?” and (2) “If so, by whom?” The Federation of Labour evidently assumes that, because counsel’s opinidn has shown that the amended law regarding the employment of barmaids fails of its intended purpose, the hotel licensees as a body are violating its intention. We are safe in saying that, as the law stands, it is not being violated in any single instance by licensees. Why, then, all this pother?

Very little is heard concerning the doings of the Trade organiser, whose appointment was announced some three months ago. Mr Lessina is, without doubt, a capable man, and a good organiser, but hotel licensees would feel all the more confident in his ability, if an occasional report appeared from him in the press- of the Dominion. It may be accounted good policy not to let the right hand know what the left is doing, but it is very •disconcerting nevertheless, added to

pocket and personal gain is, whether he knows it or not, a very real friend to the Prohibitionist.

Salutations to Mr. J. S. Palmer, expresident of the Auckland and New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Associations, who is spending his first Christmas for many years as a private individual, altogether unfettered by Trade restrictions. That he welcomes the liberty of fuller citizenship, upon which he has entered, goes without saying. Whatever might be said against the policy he favoured and still favours, Mr, Palmer was for long the brains of the organisations to which he belonged, and no one contended more strenuously for fair play for the licensed victualler than he did. The fact that he intends, in conjunction with Mr. R. A. Singer, putting, in the holiday season in compiling a hotelkeepers’ vade mecum, is the best possible proof that he has not lost interest in the trade he has abandoned for (let us hope) a more profitable and less onerous calling.

which there is no possibility .of the Incensed Victuallers’ Association ‘fol-lowing-suit.

A at Te Kuiti last week decided by 29 to 14 that a change in the present administration of the liquor traffic was desirable. The meeting recommended municipal control as being the most effective.

Stated that there is further trouble brewing amongst the retailers, owing to the spineless and indifferent attitude of many licensees, who do not seem to care twopence what takes place, so long as their own ends are served and their pockets do not suffer. The Wellington Licensed Victuallers’ Association went out of existence a few weeks ago as the result of this supine attitude on the part of certain licensees. Is history likely to repeat itself elsewhere? The publican who looks only and always to his own

“Alcohol will help the poet, the artist, the orator to forget the petty cares and troubles which may harass him; it will deaden the sense of selfconsciousness and diffidence which drove him to sterile inaction, and, at the same time, it will stimulate his genius to greater activity. But alcohol will only cause the sanguine and brainless man to be jolly, the bilious fool to be irritable, and the phlegmatic dullard to be peacefully happy; it can create sense where there is none. In other words; -aJeohof urges the gifted to remember and use their gifts and hides from the giftless the injustice of fate.” —Andre L. Simon.

We learn that Mr. Robert Russell, a well-known West Coast resident, has taken over the Royal Hotel, Greymouth.

At the quarterly meeting of the Pahiatua Licensing Committee last

week,, a- temporary transfer was granted of the Pahiatua Post Office Hotel from M. Fitzgerald to W.| J. White.

We learn that Mr. Stan. Whiteford has sold out of the'Breakwater Hof-e l . New Plymouth, and will shortly take up his residence in Eltham.

In a case in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court, in which a woman was charged with having sold tobacco after nine p.m., contrary to the Act, the magistrate remarked that he knew how difficult it was for people in business to disoblige regular customers, but it had to be done, as the law demanded it. They should think of the hotelkeeper, he said, who could not possibly sell a man a drink after 10 p.m., no matter how thirsty he might be. He suggested, though,, that people would not be so ready to want to buy goods after closing hours if they knew that by so doing they laid themselves open to a penalty for aiding and abet- - ting an illegal act. Under section 53 of the Justices of the Peace Act, a

buyer of goods after closing time could be prosecuted as an aider, abettor or procurer, just as ,a man could be fined for being fdund after hours dn licensed premises. "

"Speaking at the quarterly meeting Of the aipara Licensing Committee, the chairman, Mr E. Rawson, S.M., said he noticed that many country hotels were pestered with flies. He thought ' that something should be done "to abate the nuisance. There was a campaign against flies on the Continent and it would be a good thing to make a start here. In some places gauze screens were placed in front of the Windows, which seemed to be a good idea. It was a matter that the Health Department might take up. The police might suggest to hotelkeepers the desirability of trying to effect an improvement, and he would write to the Public Health Department himself. These remarks applied to all eating places, but particularly to hotels, some of which ; had stables near •by. ■

The quarterly meeting of the Port Chalmers Licensing Committee was held on Friday, there being present Mr. H. Y. Widdowson, S.M, (chairman), Messrs. D. A. De Maus, John Dicker, Robt. Ferrier, E. W. Isbister, and S. S. Myers. The only business before the committee were applications for permanent transfers from John Tracey (Port Chalmers Hotel) to John Doctor Parsons, and from John Douglas Warden (George Hotel) to Wm. Howie Kilgour. Mr Lang appeared for both applicants, and there being no objections by the police, the applications were granted.

A peculiar instance of cargo-broach-ing is reported from Wanganui. A hotelkeeper exhibits a bottle which had a hole skilfully made in it, and the contents (lager beer) extracted. This bottle was one of 13 in a case similarly dealt with. Another local publican found, on opening a case 'recently, that a number of bottles had been emptied in the same manner while in transit from the port of exportation.

An extraordinary accident befell Mr. J. Law, licensee of the Bridge Hotel/ Matawhero, the other day. While handling a hose the water suddenly jerked up in his face, moving the eyeball from its socket.

Mrs. Jim Sullivan, who for some time past has very successfully conducted the Commercial Hotel, Stratford, has, we learn, completed negotiations for the purchase "of the freehold of the premisese from the estate of the late F. S. Pollock. It is understood the purchase money amounts to £4,250.

The Post Office Hotel at Motueka was destroyed by "fire last week. TSe outbreak is supposed to have occurred in the servants’ quarters. A brick wall and the efforts of the brigade prevented the fire from spreading The building was owned by Mr. George Gibibs, Nelson, and leased by Mr. H. G. Holdsworth, and was insured in the Alliance office for £2 600. Mr. Holdsworth’s furniture was insured in the same office for £4OO.

The increased prices in Auckland of spirits, champagne, and tobacco are, it is said, not likely to affect Wellington retailers.. In fact, the price of champagne was raised in Wellington some months ago, owing to the pcor vintage and various labour troubles. Merchants were advised of an increase of 10s per case of twelve quart bottles or twenty-four pint bottles, and as freights, insurance and other charges had been raised, the increase had to be passed on to the retai’ers, who accordingly ra’sed their price For a long time Auckland merchants had sold-at very uriremunerative prices, and this increase would bring the Auckland and Wellington

prices into line. The price of Geneva gin was also recently raised in Wellington, but the prices of all other spirits have been steady for a long period. Owing to cutting between grocers and tobacconists the profits on tobacco at Auckland had been greatly reduced. The retailers had only done what was to be expected —namely, brought prices to a fair and normal level. People had been getting more than their money’s worth in cigarettes and certain lines of tobacco. These advanced prices had been general among Wellington retailers for some, time past.

Tie quarterly meeting of the Kaipara... Licensing Committee was held at bargaville last week, and was attended by E. Rawson, S.M., chairman; J. Trounson, J. A. McLean, D. Finlayson, T. Bassett, G. N. Hayes. The police reports on the conduct of hotels in the last quarter were satisfactory. The repairs ordered at the annual meeting had been carried out Wxth one exception. The Toka Toka Hotel had been and partly furnished and the remainder was being furnished to the satisfaction of the police.

Hearing of the industrial dispute between the hotel employees and the employers' of Wellington, . city and suburbs, is to come before the Conciliation Council on January 6 next. The union’s award was timed to expire on August 1 last. An informal conference took place some months ago between the two parties, _but no settlement was effected. In the claims to be presented to the Conciliation Council, the workers are asking lor increased wages for kitchen hands, barmen, and night and day porters. For workers in other branches of the trade no advances are demanded. A fuller preference clause is asked for, and one or two other minor improvements. The union is not asking any award regulation of hours and holidays, m view of the promised legislaLon in that respect next session. The assessors for the .union are Messrs. T. Long, H O’Maliy, and T. * ... *'

At the quarterly meeting of the Rarigitikei Licensing Bench an application was made by Mr. Collins on behalf of Mr. Cameron, licensee of the White Hart Hotel ’ (recently destroyed by fire at Marton), that the license in respect to temporary premises be extended to February sth, when the present licensee’s lease would expire. He had no information, counsel said, to place before the Licensing Bench as to the rebuilding of the hotel. He had written about the matter, but so far he had received no reply- The chairman: A telegram has just been received to the effect that plans were being prepared, , and . the building . would probably be erected in brick. The inAfter consultation it was announced formation was, he thought very vague that' the extension would be granted to January 6th. If 1 by that time a definite scheme was placed before the Committee, a further extension would probably be granted. If not the Committee would have to consider the position.

In connection with the objection ' lodged against the transfer of a hotel license at the sitting of the Kaipara Licensing Committee, it appears that when application was made for a temporary transfer the Magistrate issued a certificate of fitness in the ordinary way, but the members of the committee refused to sign the transfer. Consequently’ applicant had to show that. he . was a fit and proper person to conduct a hotel, and this led up to the taking of evidence. Applicant gave evidence on his own behalf and evidence was given in rebuttal'by two police officers stationed in the district concerned. .

An interesting legal point cropped up at the quarterly sitting of the Patea Licensing Committee with respect to the renewal of a license to Barclay Harrington for the Central Hotel, Hawera, which was adjourned from the annual meeting in June last to enable the erection of a new building to be proceeded with. In the interval thg licensee (Mr Harrington) had sold his interest in .the hotel, and had gone - * into the Normanby Hotel,, for which he had an application for' a' permanent’’transfer. / 'The question then*" arose that the bench "had before

it two applications from the same son with respect to two licenses namely, an application for the renewal of the Central Hotel license and an application for a permanent transfer in relation to the Normanby Hotel. The chairman pointed out that one person could not hold two licenses. Eventually it was arranged that the applications be adjourned until the March sittings. A temporary license, however, was granted with respect to the Normanby Hotel, but there will be a fresh application for the next sitting.