THE EMBARRASSMENT OF A PUBLICAN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 8

THE EMBARRASSMENT OF A PUBLICAN.

Sir,—ln your issue of Juno 11 thero appeared a letter in your open column appealing to holders of hotel licenses to refrain from over-supplying their customers, and thereby estranging themselves from tho support of thoso moderately inclined. In your correspondent's letter reference is made to the fact (advisedly, it is .a fact, I have observed it myself) that men and women are occasional!}' to bo seen in an advanced state of intoxication i.i our streets. It is a regrettable fact, but one that is not by any means attributable to tho licensed holders. 1 havo only recently taken a hotel in this city. I entered into possession of tho property with a view to profitably catering for a demand that exists—a business that carries with it tho stamp of State approval, and for tho right to do so I pay a fee far in cxcess of any other business in existence. To hold such a licenso it is incumbent upon mo before tho granting of same to prove t'hat I am a fit and proper person to hold such a license. I did so, end obtained my license. Now, sir, I would ask you: "Is it likely that 1, having invested all my savings in tho purchase of tho property, would be likely to infringe the Act by over-loading my .customers, and by thrusting them out on to tho street in a stato of intoxication, jeopardise my license, my capital, and my reputation't"

Permit me, os a recent city hotel licensee, to explain tlio difliculties under which I labour aud so do all of my fellow tradesmen. I instruct my barmen to on no account serve anyone with liquor who shows signs of having more than they should. The various degrees of drunkenness have oftentimes been discussed by the legal authorities in open Court! but I have no hesitation in stating that I, or any other intelligent man, should havo no difficulty in arriving at a conclusion when a man has had enough. But, unfortunately, our laws are so framed that at any tim 6 a holder of a hotel license is liable for permitting drunkenness upon his licensed premises. I say "unfortunately" because it is unfortunate for mo to havo to eject men who had never partaken of drink on my premises, owing to their having arrived in an advanced state of intoxication, and emphatically demanding a drink. If I remove them quietly (I always endeavour to do .so), or if I eject them hurriedly, as is necessary in many cases, tho passing public is apt to judgo mo wrongly, and how often is it said: "Look at the brute throwing tho poor fellow out after ho has spent his money. Wait till next election and I will throw him out?" If I don't remove him the polioe, in duty bound, cliargo mo with permitting drunkenness on my licensed premises. I am in a quandary how to act. I feel that I havo not adequately placed before your readers i'lio uncertain ground upon which I, among others. 6tand.

I know that those whoso minds are warped becauso of their bitterness against tho traffic will endeavour to smother my statements by saying that if a man is too drunk when he enters my premises lie must have got it at another hotel. I will errant that lie may have, but I have sufficient faith in the integrity of the licensed people of Wellington to believo that wlien' tho last nip that "turned him up" was partaken of tliero were no visible eicns of intoxication, but fresh air, tobacco, and an empty stomach (to say nothing of various political speeches), and don't forgot "waiting for the tram," just put him in that mellow mood that either calls for another drink (which we should oil refuse) or tho guiding influence of a policeman. Tho foregoing is by way of preamble. I am about to mako a suggestion that, on first consideration, may appear to bo tho vapourings of a mind diseased, find doubtless will give riso to all sorts of suggestions by those opposed to the drink traffic, but if thoso suggestions tend to lead to tho alienation of the distress of those who use to abuse, I will be tho first one. when tho. barrier rises to help the suggestors to do what they should do by their fellowmen. We will say, for instance, that A, who.,is a respectable citizen, has been to a wedding. He instructs a hansom cab-driver to take him to So-and-So's hotel. Tho driver does so; drops •him at the door, collects' tho. faro, and departs. A, full of wine from the marriage banquet, wants to shout for all bands. I refuse him, and right on top of my refusal comes another crowd from t funornl. I refuse them. They become noisy, abusive, and as I said before I am in a quandary. What am I to do? Bump them out 011 to tho footpath when some of their mothers-in-law might be passing, or send for tho police and have them taken in charge—to their everlasting disgrace? What I consider to be tho simple remedy ia this: Every hotel should be compelled to Ihave a "cooler, ft nice ccinfortablo room with a matti'ess 011 which could bo dumped the unruly. The police could bo rung up, and when the whereabouts of the sobered man were discovered he could be sent liorao by tasi cab, or motor car, or wheelbarrow (according to Lis position in life) and labelled, ii case of mistake ."this side up with care." It would save a lot of worry waiting about to bail a friend out; it would save any explanations at home as to where you spent your sight, and it would save tho publican from being blamed for what he didn't do. I flin, etc., A PUBLICAN.