THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 3353, 18 November 1873, Page 2

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN DUNEDIN.

; T? .the Mitorf • Sir,—ln a former communication which you were good.enough to publish, I inquired if anyone could tell by what principle the licensing Justices are guided in the granting'of hotel and bottle licenses for the Bale of Jiqubr. As too one hus sought io finlighten me, aud as I am myself unable to gam any information on the subject, I crave the favor of room to state one or two things which I ; think should he taken into account iu the granting of licenses : Ist. I think the Justices should keep in mind 'thai the license is not simply a contiivanco fur the raising of revenue, but is intended for the regulation and restriction of; the liquor, trathc. Wwo tho former,, «| some people thipk, the fcole or principal object of the license, then certificates should be granted by the Justices to all who apply ; or "rather the licencing L'ourt should be altogether abolished, < ann licenses be granted at the Provincial Trea. sury or Corporation office to all who would pay the fee.' It is, however, obviouW from the provisions of the Licensing Ordinances dtadActd that the regulation andfrastricMon of tho traffic is the jnain purpose of the license.- The traffic must only be carried fin by approved inen-in approved houses, at times and under conditions prescribed by lam; Nor is conformity with the strictly legal requirement* of the Act or Ordinance all that is necessary to warrant an applicant in dwnanding, or to j nstify the Bench •in granting the certificate applied > for. The Bench «tre expected' to take into consjdwatioa the nature of the locality, the character of the residents in the neighbourhood, th* amount and, nature, of the-traffic in: the d« triot, and to afford''those who wish to do so an opportunity or stating their objection to the granting of «6rtificates," Thtee conditions prove that the licensing Justices are appointed to regulate and restrict, and not indiscriminately to spread the traffic in intoxicating liquors in order to raise* revenue. _ '■, 2nd. By the adoption of a,license, the Legislature of thin country and the soTereign people as replanted uj tfa'e Legislature bate

t *jbl free comfpbn use mporS is dangerous to the Community ; the tbehy cannot be left to the opvratirtn of the .ordinary laws of •commerce —thbse, vizof supply and demand, but must, for the safety of the public, be regulated bjy law. . 3rd. It therefore follows that the duties , of thei licensing Justices lire of .more importance to the well-being of the community than some dif them are at tibes disposed to think. No certificate should be granted by them across wbi”h they cannot write pro hono publico. It is obvious, if iam correct in what I have already written, that the license should be granted by the Bench, not merely for the profit or in the interest of the licensee, but for the * accommodation and benefit of the public at.large, Net .that the public should be benefited at the expense of the individual, but that the accommodation . and weiUboiug of the public- should be the first consideration, the prpfit of the individual but a secondary, or, so far as the Justices are concerned, no consideration at pH4th. The purpose to be served by the licensed house is not the providing of 9. drink shop,or place of amusement in which hien may congregate for the merejsake of enjoying each other’s company for the purpose of drinking or for gambling at the billiard table, euchre, Wnkec grab,, or uuliruited 100 j but the providing of. accommodation and supplies fpr the traveller or the temporary resident in the locality where the house is situated. 'I he very name given to the licensee indicates this, whether..it be publican, hotel-keeper, or licensed victualler, it follows then, I think, that the multiplication of hotels beyond the number necessary for the ’ accommodation of tbo floating population, is, a mistake,' and a departure from tbo principle which Underlies the, whole been* sing system, . 1 ‘ 6th. The permission to furnish a " bar” and supply all coiners with liquor,' does not at all militate against my argument as to the purpose, and the limitation to the number of licensed houses. The law recognises the desirability of allowing facilities for the public obtaining a certain modicum of alcoholic liquor, which it is supposed may be taken without injury to the commonwealth, if not with positive advantage to the individual. . It is therefore provided .that Abe drouthy sou! may, wheu away from home or when about town, slake his thirst at the bar, or find supply at the hotel where he temporarily resides; or may obtain supplies for domestic and social use, along with the tea and the, sugar and other necessaries of ordinary life, from the holder of'the bottle lieense. , 6 hj. From the foregoing considerations it follows that betels may be properly provided jn .the principal of a city, near its business houses, and m the neighborhood of its wharvreaod quays,, its railway stations, or coach offices. That bottle licenses may be granted, as I thick', to fetich grocers of character as may be depended on not to turn their store* into sly-grog shops, and are willing to pay the license fed ; and this, not vrith a view to extend the ’sale of. liquor, but on •principles of equity, that each grocer may fairly compete with another, and be able' to supply his customers with such goods as they may require. If a bottle license is consitlSied au hdVAhtage,^and is to Tie granted to any, I cannot see oh what equitable principle one grocer may be allowed a privilege which is refused to another, so long os that other is willing to pay for it, and give a guarantee either in his personal respectability or otherwise for a fulfilment of the conditions on which the lioeuse is granted. The licensing of hotels in back streets, away from the route of traffic, planting them down amongst a lot of private houses, neir factories, or close by recreation grounds, is an entire mistake, a misapplication of the power vested in the licensing Justices, and an extension of the liquor traffic, which must result in a misexpendituro of the means of the people, and the setting up of a number of, houses which'can only lie maintained by the deve opment of an amount of drinking which caimhjtipl to be demoralising to the people, and tfmreTore a great wrong to the tommunity;—l am, 4c., A Ratepayer. Dunedin, November !7. . ,