GRANTING NEW LICENSES.

Evening Post, Issue 65, 25 April 1865, Page 3

GRANTING NEW LICENSES.

.;« meeting of justices, for the purpose of tatting into consideration applications for licenses, was held in the Court House, Nelson, on the 18th inst., when Mr. Kingdon, on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, opposed the granting of any new licenses. He said the licensed houses were now very i'airty distributed to meet the several wants of different portions of the town, and, even during the prevalence of the late rush of visitors induced by the gold fields, it had not be?-n found that the accommodation afforded by thn present licensed houses had been insufficient to supply all who required it. The present publicans had hail to invest larjie sums of money in their business, whilst the trade at present doing but rarely remunerated them. There was. in fact, already so much pushing and seeking for trade that many of the landlords had been compelled to consent to the use of the fiddle and other musical instruments in their houses, and such a state of things, he would maintain, tended to the subversion of morality of both the adult and growing population. Let the Bench license more houses and immediately they must employ more police to control such houses. At present it was only by the strictest economy, that publicans made their business pay ; increase their number, and there would immediately commence a struggle to see who, by providing singing, musk', and gambling, could secure the largest amount of trade. It had never, upon any occasion, been submitted to the Bench that the present licensed houses did not amply inset every requirement of the town. He was well aware that, with regard to publican's licenses, a feeling of free trade had arisen, with the idea that whatever licenses were a*ked tor should be granted so that the evil Bhould cure itself. But did the Bench consider the frightful step they would be taking if they adopted such a view P IWre they prepared to l*'t loo*e by their deliberate sanction all that could arouse men's evil passions ; would they not, in fact, by such a step be increasingly demoralising the people whom they, as Magistrates, were bound to protect ? He would, with these observations, leave the matter with the Bench. The Resident Magistrate : Nine out of ten of tbe present houses of accommodation are so bad that the Magistrates on the Bench think new houses, affording increased, improved accommodation, should be established. Mr. Kingdon : Tf the Bench had formerly let it go forth that, unless th^at present licensed houses *ere improved, licenses would be granted to houses of a better cla-s, their present opinion would be held upon perfectly fair grounds. Surely it is not now fair, without a moment's warning, to say, because the old houses do not give peculiar accommodation, we will license new houses. The Resident Magistrate : I presume that you are arguing against our granting any new license. Mr. Kingdon : I am. The business of the Court was then proceeded with.