The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1877.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 88, 22 May 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1877.

According to a report in the Press, " a " large number of the licensed victuallers "•of Christchurch met the Hon. E. " Richardson and Mr. E. C. J. Stevens " on Thursday afternoon, for the purpose "of discussing the existing licensing "laws and such amendments as the "licensed victuallers considered should " be made during the next session of the " General Assembly. A long and de- " sultory discussion ensued, in the course " of which, it seemed to be the general •' opinion that the Act should be amended " so far as it relates to the number of " bars in licensed houses ; that twelve " o'clock licenses should be granted at "the discretion- of the Licensing Bench " on the payment of extra fees; that " night licenses should also be granted " on payment of extra fees wherever the

"Bench considered them necessary. " With regard to Sunday selling, it was " the general opinion that selling should "be allowed during certain hours on " Sundays, and that where licenses were " proved to sell outside of those hours " the penalty should be heavier than that " now imposed for selling drink during "prohibited hours."

We offer no opinion as to the expediency or otherwise of these proposed amendments, but will notice each in succession, and fairly state the arguments pro and con., leaving the public to judge whether it is that they should become law or not. And here we would state, that it is not our intention to enter upon the discussion of the question of prohibition, but simply to confine ourselves to that of regulation. The law, as at present interpreted by the Licensing Bench, affirms, that the licensee of every licensed house who shall have more than one bar on his premises, shall pay an extra license fee for every extra bar. The licensed victuallers say that they provide these extra bars for the convenience and accommodation of the public, and that, therefore, they ought not to be heavily taxed in addition to the usual license fee, because they are endeavouring to provide for the public convenience. On the other hand, it is urged, that these extra bars mean extra facilities for the sale of drink, thereby increasing the profits of the licensees ; and if it be right to impose a license fee for the sale of drink in one bar, there is no reason why the licensee should not pay for the privilege of extending his business by opening extra bars, especially, as the real motive for such opening is not the public convenience but to increase the sale of liquor, and, consequently, the profits of the licensee. As to the extension of the hours of sale and the granting of night licenses, that is a question which applies more to cities and large towns than to country districts. The arguments, in favor are, that it is absolutely necessary that some licensed houses should be kept open all night for the convenience of those who may arrive by rail or steamer after the ordinary hour of closing, and also for the reasonable refreshment of those whose avocations necessitate them to work until three or four o'clock in the morning, such as the employees on the morning newspapers. The arguments against are, that the numbers arriving at night by rail and steamers, are so few, as not to warrant the grantingof night licenses ; that the half-hour—from ten to halfpast—allowed to newspaper employees is amply sufficient for the purpose of reasonable refreshment, that night houses tend to increase drinking habits, and despite the vigilance of the police, to encourage gambling. In favour of Sunday selling it is urged, that if drink be allowed to be sold during certain hours on Sundays and the penalty for selling outside those hours made heavier, there would be less violation of the law than there is at present. It is argued in opposition to this, that in cases where men deliberately break a law for the sake of gain, it would be acting on a wrong principle to remove some of the restrictions of that law on the hypothesis that there would be less violation of it, but that rather the law should be more strictly enforced than it is at present; that as to the infliction of heavier penalties than at present, it is in the power of Magistrates to inflict higher penalties than they do now if they choose to exercise it.

The broad question—for the consideration of the public—involved in the proposed amendments in the Licensing Act, is—will it be conducive to the public weal that increased facilities would be given for the sale of intoxicating drink ? This is a question in which the public are as deeply interested as the licensees. If the public should be of opinion that the answer should be in the affirmative, let them petition in favour of the amendments ; if in the negative, against them #