THE LICENSING COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4306, 14 December 1876, Page 3

THE LICENSING COURT.

To the Editor. Sir, — I noticed in your issue of the 12th inst. a letter signed “S.C.',” commenting upon the action of the Licensing Commissioners’ last sitting. I, like your correspondent, was expecting to see some remarks upon their decisions, but not of the same nature as “ S.C’s.” I expected to see a few sub-leaders on the subject, approving of the course taken by the commissioners in refusing all new licenses, and encouraging them to do so for many years to come. It must be evident to all who have given the subject a thought, that there is an abundance of public-houses in all the cities and towns of New Zealand to satisfy the reasonable requirements of all those who think them necessary until the population is three times as numerous as at present; or, if my idea of the reanlt of such a course be at fault, let some of the wretched hovels miscalled hotels—be pulled .down and replaced by real hotels five times’ as large. Again, “ S.C. ” refers to those who spend thousands m building houses and trust to the caprice of the Bench for the license—a very unwise step for the builder to take ; but if taken, and the license refused, he has only his want of caution to blame for- it. This, I think, bears some reference to the Bavensbourne house. Now I would like to say a few words about this house, with* all deference to the owner. I say it would have been a serious misfortune to Ravensbourne if the license had been granted to that house; and the. thanks of the inhabitants are due to the Commissioners for protecting them from the evils of the'drink traffic being introduced among them. There are special weighty reasons why it should not be. With a, few exceptions the entire population of Bavensbourne consists of mechanics and working men, people with Urge families and limits! I means, who have left the unhealthy atmosphere of the city, and rented dwellings and established comfortable homes of their own, where their children can run about in the pure air away from the baneful sights and sounds always to be found in large towns—where they themselves are away from the temptation of the public-house and other scenes having a tendency to cause money to be squandered that could be better applied at homo. Are the evils from wbioh those familes. have so worthily removed going to * be allowed to follow them tb their peadefu home* 11 trust nbt A #efct d&l obtdd be

laid justifying the Commissioners in refusing a license to this house; but I will not occupy more of your valuable space on this subject at present.—l am, &c., MaXVA. Port Chalmers, December 14.