WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 320, 18 January 1871, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1871.

In the treatment of tho liquor traffic question in the Provincial Council, last night and this morning, honorable members meant business. There was a refreshing heartiness in the way in which they went about it that was a relief after the hundruin styla of usual debates. It was evident from the first that nearly every one's mind was made up on the subject, and speech after speech was but " piling up the agony." Each seemed to try to eclipse his predecessor in unfolding pictures in the history of drunkenness, and in adding suggestions for making the measure more effectively sweeping. We have no hesitation

in saying that the debate of last night has reflected credit on the Council. The measure proposed was one for reform in an abuse that is the crying shame of the colonies, and the cause, of more desolation than any other vice with which humanity is afflicted. Only one or two members in Council opposed the measure, and, considering the consequences of the clauseaccepted, we are free to admit that their opposition may have been no excess of caution. With these exceptions, vested interests, and all other interests of the liquor traffic, had short shrift; and now that the debate is practically over, and the care of the publicans entrusted to the U.K.A, we say, Vce Victis! The annual licensing meeting is approaching. In the beginning of April the hotel-keepers who have been acuatomed to making their annual bow to the Bench, must look to it that they are in the good graces of the teetotallers, and we have not a doubt that there will be satisfaction taken on some ' taverns for past abuses. Sincerely as we believe in the good results that may be made to flow from the measure, we would counsel caution. If a swoop is made on all the established hotels, an antagonism will be raised that may reverse the victory. The teetotallers have won a great victory, and through their efforts Auckland has taken a proud pre-eminence, as leader in the reform of liquor traffic of in these colonies. But let the victory be tempered with prudence. The complete results of the provision will be felt in time. But let a line be drawn between the worthy and unworthy. Under the loose regime of the past, a large number of hotel-keepers in this city have kept their establishments respectable, not from compulsion but from choice. Let this be remembered now. There are again hotels in this city, the constant haunts of prostitutes, and from which the sound of drunken orgies and disgusting obscenity issues every night. And we call on the friends of temperance and purity, spare them not! There is no difficulty in drawing the line. Any one passing through our main streets at 10 o'clock at night has the pest-houses obtruded on his notice. And now that the power is in the hands of the people, aye of the wives and sisters and daughters of Auckland, we trust that vice will disappear from our bars, or the bars disappear from our city.

As for the application of the permissive principle to the wholesale licenses, where the Council has done so much good, we can pardon a little folly. Of coarse in so characterising the action of the Council in this respect, we shall be regarded as speaking in fear of what were called the " big houses in Queenstreet," and the Bank of New Zealand. We regret to see that the Council was evidently influenced by this charge, and perpetrated folly in showing its independence. A local veto on a wholesale license is, as it was intended to be, a reductio ad absurdum. And the pi'opoaers of it confessedly acted on the principle sad to be practised by the Devil, who, when he cannot upset the coach, will mount to the coachbox and drive. We think the Council will, on reflection, see the effect of the ruse, and will annul what it has done in this respect. The vaguries and irregularities of trade, in making Wangarei or Russell, or, perhaps, Wellington, the seat of the wholesale stores for this province, and our merchant's ag( nts, are so palpable, that honorable members will waive the assertion of independence of " big merchants," and show themselves amenable to common sense.