DEPUTATION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2165, 14 April 1870, Page 2

DEPUTATION.

This morning a deputation from the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, consisting of Messrs Walter, Hayden, Watson, Mee, and Wain, waited on his Honor the Superintendent. Mr J. Sibbald, M.P.C., introduced the deputation. Mr Walter explained the object of the deputation. He said that his Honor would recollect that it was now some seven months since a deputation from the Association waited upon him. On that occasion they asked his Honor to take steps to introduce into the Provincial Council a Government measure to amend the present Licensing Ordinance, and in reply, his Honor had requested them to prepare a statement of the amendments they desired. The deputation had now to lay before his Honor for perusal by himself and his Executive a draft ordinance. It would take some little time for consideration ; but the deputation had to request that he would return a reply as early as possible in order that they m'ght know whether or not ho intended to introduce it as a Government measure, or whether they should have to do so as a private matter. In referring to the subject he might call attention to a few figures which were undeniable. At the present time there were 401 holders of general licenses, whose average capital was about LSOO each, or in the aggregate L 250,000, a very large amount. Their interest ought therefore to be taken notice of by the Provincial Government, although as yet it had not been. During the last five years there had been received for general licenses, L 34,089 4s, exclusive of night licenses; while for the bottle licenses the sum of L 5,285 10s only was received. The licensed victuallers therefore had paid over and above the holders of bottle licenses. L 25.803 14s. Last year the. amount paid for general licenses exclusive of night licenses, was L 5,901, against L 1,256 received for bottle licenses, the sum paid by victuallers over holders of bottle licenses being L 7,645. The deputation now asked for the abolition of bottle license?. In connexion with that request, the question naturally arose how was the deficiency in the revenue to be made up. His reply on behalf of the Associa'.i n was that the publicans as a body were prepared to give the Government aid in every w.iy, financial or otherwise ; they were prepared to pay an additional L 5 per annum which would be about L 2,000, as against LI 256 received from the holders of bottle licenses. Were the course suggested adopted the Government would be fortifying the hands of the police, who at the present time had very unpleasant duties to perform in connexion with bottle licenses. He might state that the Asscciation had no desire to oppose cr interfere with any trade ; but in taking the stand they were taking, they were merely following the example of similar societies elsewhere —viz , protecting their own inter rests. Their trade was a peculiar one ; they restricted themselves to selling the one article ; but they had to accomraqdate tlje public, and to do so were compelled in thp first instance, before obtaining a license, to erect premises suitable for the acommodation of the public. They had next to keep up a staff of servants for the accommodation of travelle-s, and (very properly) were under police surveillance. Grocers, he was credibly informed, exceeded 200 in number, and each one’s store, if well stocked, contained 200 different articles, and their busicless was supplemented by thrir being granted bottle licenses. This was, he thought, a very great injustice to the publicans, and the Association were of the same opinion. There was another thing to be cor - sldered ; groceries were indispensably necessary, and drinks were not. The bench of magistrates —men independent of commercial pursuits and of the elector's—had expressed their opinions pretty freely on the matter ; and his Honor, no doubt, was aware of them. He might throw out one suggestion, and i| was, if the Provincial Council were at all doubtful, it might get the evidence of the magistrates, who were uninterested. His Honor said that it would take some little time to read through the Ordinance. He might state that it was his intention to introduce an Ordinance at the next session of the Council for the purpose of amending the present Ordinance, but it would be of a more technical character. He did not intend to provide for the abolition of the bottle licenses. Of course the question must come up ; hut he was not prepared just now to express an opinion upon it. He did not know what were the opinions of the Executive upon it. He knew that there were great complaints from the bench of magistrates ; but the real cure would be to abolish tlie licensing system altogether. If he bad his own way, that would be the course be should adopt.

It was explained that the proposed Ordinance, amongst other things, provided that where the publican once obtained a license from the magistrates, it would be merely necessary for him to pay the license fee into the Treasury, unless complaint were made against the holder ; and also that it should be optional for the publican to have a lamp over his premises. His Honor thought both provisions good ones. He should like to see the system of granting licenses after the time extended; that, in fact, a sliding scale should be adopted. The present system ofien occasioned a great deal of inconvenience to persons Avho had inadvertently neglected to pay the fee, while they were perfectly prepared to do so. He saw no great principle involved in the abolition of bottle licenses. He supposed the old grievance of the Association sly grog-selling had diminished. When the Commissioner of Police took office he gave instructions to him to keep a good look out, and JO convictions had taken place already. No doubt sly grog-selling was on the wane. The deputation thought differently- The bottle system, was, they said, the greatest cloak for it, and they referred to the inducements the stores held out for women to drink. After some further discussion, His Honor said he would give the Association an answer in a day or two, for the Government would have to make up their mind whether this Ordinance would be incorporated with the one they proposed to introduce.