LICENSING MATTERS IN THE BUSH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3231, 7 November 1881, Page 2

LICENSING MATTERS IN THE BUSH.

[To the Editor of the DatdT TexeGRAPH.] Sir,—Some time since a petition was largely signed here and forwarded, I believe to the authorities at W ellin g ton requesting that a second license should not be granted for this district. Also there was a resolution passed at a full meeting of the Rechabite lodge protesting against a license being granted to another hotel, and asking that, before such was done, the application for the second license should be referred to the Licensing Court to be elected for tbe district. This latter expression of the Rechabites was also forwarded to the Government. Now, Sir, as I see the building for the second hotel is nearly finished, I am stropgly of opipipn that, jp. these days of electioneering, some sort of promise must have been made by some person or pergons who have friends at Court, that the said second house will in all probability get a license granted, and this through the Wellington connection of one of the local candidates. If this be one of the methods of securing votes,»it is a pity the settlers of the district do not realise their position, and to a man yote against a candidate so low as to sacrifice the quietness of the settlers, and create the hundred and one evils attendant on an indiscriminate granting of licensee in an

unprotected district. It is well known that if there ia only one licensed house in a locality any excess of drunkennesß can easily be traced to the individual supplying the drink, and he can be made responsible, as when the renewal of the license is asked for - the remedy is in the hands of the Licensing Bench. And. I would ask you, Mr Editor, to giye us your help in our cause, that co reasonable a request be conceded as that the granting a second license in so small a community be referred to the new Licensing Court. I feel sure, if such a course is adopted, the said Court will be informed that such expressions as the petition of the settlers and the resolution of the Rechabite lodge have been made, and will not be ignored by the gentlemen of the Court, and I yet hope that such excess of licenses will not be granted.—l am, &c, A. Resident. . Makatoku, November 4, 1881.