DUBLIN. – Licensing Conference.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 3, 15 January 1903, Page 9

DUBLIN. - Licensing Conference.

In the early part of November a representative conference of Magistrates was held in Dublin for the purpose of discussing tho licensing question. Delegates from nearly every district in Ireland were present An exchange of opinions (says the ' Freeman's Journal ') upon this very important social question amongst thoso who are mainly concerned in the granting or withholding of licenses must be of interest to the whole community It is pretty generally conceded that with our decreasing population, there is, taking the country as a whole, no need for an increase in licensed houses. Here and theie exceptional circumstances may call for the creation of a new license in some locality, but such cases are rare There are sound reasons, from a moral and social point of view, why the granting of fresh licenses for tho sale of drink should be curtailed In the course of his smooch Cantain Shawe-Taylor gave some interesting facts concerning the proportion of public-houses to population in somo of the western districts. General satisfact on was exprossed by the conference at the passage of Mr. Clancv s Bill, and the meeting discussed a draft Bill brourht forward by Lord Mayo. The proposed measure contains four principal proposals — first, the substitution of a complete register of convictions for the present system of endorsements ; second, the removal of certain disabilities

at present falling upon justices who are railway company directors ; third, a more stringent provision for the giving of occasional licenses ; and fourth, the extending of the limit for bona-fide travellers to 10 miles. The conference marks one more decisive advance in the praiseworthy efforts that are being made to mitigate the evil of excessive drinking.