LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 948, 15 October 1910, Page 10

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

■ 6 .THE LICENSING QUESTION. f',;-- A BROADER .OUTLOOK WANTED. - Sir, —It would appear by the Bill now-|-'V.' SeforeParliament that the liquor" trafv fioi.whibli iSj perhapSj the greatest social I-., question ofcthc day, is about to be again f • recast on ; a compromise between .the ( views and supposed interests of the,-pro-;. ■: Siibitiou and liquor Sections, of; tho community. . A'compromise, : ;by the way, l;"- >.basedon'-'no; .■prinoiplej" but by which |.. 'each section expects to -igot tho, better, s ,v: iof the "other.:ln approaching,the quesi iiion, and when .ono recalls tho Old Counp ;;ftry clrinkiug, i'-,habits ■ of sonio fifty years ago, when tho teetotal movement; assum(Ji '. fed activity in tile . vigorous campaign in fit which-'-Mr. Gough was the; leading ora- ; ' lor; as:also tho great and widespread I ■ good effect which ha 3 sinco followed; in [. -..tlio very 'general v reform of drinking ihabits'and in public 'opinion over drink- | ling customs, one can only" feel grateful to' all who then and for many years'

, after took an part-in.; this \great i reform: But, alas, captured by the oxample of certain parts of America, > : Itho beneficent effort to improve tho peojple's habits and to better control the K Jitraffio; has: here ' practically ceased. As i;;; (prohibitionists the now make but. K: (small, if any, effort, to" restrain abuses, |r;vlahd seemingly look on-the attendant .inR) degradation;with •_ % "«xcept to; point to. tho . resulting'; misery' - - .'as, tlie..basis. of.. their, cause—surely a Tfgrottable, if not fanatical, attitude, : which might even .be' fairly described as i • ignoble; . y:- ; ; ; : On tho side -of the liquor, interests the [*.. necessary restraint is supposed 4to bo secured. under ~a license,, with a ;police Coiisupervision. far .fielow what;the inherent L'^ievilsof,the,trade call. for..: In.practice, 3;when, a suitable; houses-is;: built . and a

;■ ■ v >;'Jiceiise : grtrnted; V • •tlie'owner' s property sis largely enhanced m valuo. General- [•:,, ay,"- if ho occupies" at vail - and '-fulfils; the \ -conditions *of his license, ho very soon >.-• "finds la tenant, and) if at a moderate : . rent, his 'tenant. speedily sub-lets at a l; : ' ,'iaoli-roht ;" so ..that ultimately,.:.in any • ..ease, thi>'.occupying; licensee -is soon

If -;ibrought ..to tho position that he mustmeeds push to sell overy ■ glass which he : possibly can, aiul this; too ;often, to all !'■. • and sundry.' Under these, the ordinI'Jaix.'coriditions, irregularities. ■ aro : :probI^vible^iandare saidto''bo;general.; ' But ! . against; detected ■' lapses i, in .'. conduct, •!- "clauses m leases provide for the prompt the offending, tenant, and f^iiso.cancellation of 'alicensees; almost. • 'on .unknown- occurrence,' and the owner, ••. ;or ? : bis;- intermediary.- lessees,,feeling . sef euro, are 'indifferent to othic'al obligaj. . -lions, and placidly : batten on their rents ; .land margins. ; v ' Now, Ido not seek to write at length i' ion ;publichouse reform, but, primarily, :• idf that reform is sbughfc/the owner and | -sub-owners, who lire, tho parties profitC Vjmg" lmderi he held

j.'moro immediately, responsible for the ..■conduct of the bouse. As mentioned, to' obtaining ■;tho license tho property! i; ihas been greatly enhanced in value, and IV:|fl)rv;tliat continuing ;benefit(these t !in their degree should never ho released p • .from the : res]>onsibility for the good - „.. jcotiduct under tbe license by which they! j) J so'benefit.-. It is. not enough : that l a jdetected tenant should bo . turned out, !• V jand <i handy' man put-in to fill the gap.- || ,; The effect of a tenant's misconduct should !0f in ! every case be: shared in by those Sr i' oven to tho moro ready: j, :. .cancellation.of. the license, for until these they: will: continue Ij . 'to- set; biit. small - value I upon the conduct p;|of: iticir v ; tenknt; - the- licensee. Probfcably tho time has come when hotel.traffcivlfic should-be- more classified; - and that kt Special licenses should bo issued to Kimotels strictly.conducted for. the use of ffom'ihouses;. f" dependent upon bar and: parlour class .which - calls for closer. te[® n P® r ™' on >!>Under .due;' inspection, hotels -Whichi now supply liquor, to 1' [men already under its mlluenco or. to [/. [habitual drunkards, would -havo to mend | ttheir ways or close. -is areasonable' and' legitimate' f. .iftrafup -to bo done in drink, ; but inci-.-.[dental to ' the - trade . there ■■ ever/lias. a Irresponsibility- oh .the - vendor to .restrain jviexcess. ;v Tho vt-oo common ; neglect lof y ithis has-degraded, the-.trade, asiwell as ,l .jits-victims,and it is time that the Govli leriimeiit .snould'Cease' \iith such 'rise- to tfe :f . rt'^ 1 ® r _!;T®. 3 l>i I 1: of "/--fciieiit. . 'oflSc©,' which means dealing with it upon lines '.. and considerations above thoso set' up by men of warped judgment, and by a ,• measure carefully devised with .a view tto. settle this great social .problem.—l etc.,/ • V 'r , ' > ' MODERATION. , f '' '