THE LICENSING COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4318, 29 December 1876, Page 4

THE LICENSING COURT.

To tU Editor. Sir, —Tt was not my intention to trouble ?rou further with this subject, but seeing a etterinyour paper signed "Yelroc" referring to my previous one upon it, in which he invites me to answer certain queries, I should be most happy to comply, but I regret that " Yelroc " did not put them in a more distinct form, so that I could do so. I might, however, answer one, in justice to the worthy resident of Rothesay who he mistakes for being the writer of the letter signed "Matua," which has roused "\ elroc's" ire. He also does me the honor of thinking I am known to him. I might say, "Alas! poor Yelroc, thou know'st me not," neither have I the honor of being a neighbor of hi 3; my humble abode is at Port Chalmers, as set forth in my letter. This might be fortunate for me, seeing it lessens the chance of being placed in the undignified position of being on my "beam ends." I fail to see the joke of the- .reference to that ill-fated steamer Matau. " Yelroc " will see by referring to my letter that it is signed "Matua," not "Matau," words with widely differeut significations. In the language of the aboriginals, translated into English, the former would be parent, and the latter fishhook, a word not at all applicable to my letter, considering its mild tone. I regret that 4t Yelroc" should have put such an unjust and ungenerous construction upon that part of my letter referring to the working men. Far be it from me to speak disparagingly of them. 1, too, get my living by work. I distinctly reiterate all contained in my previous letter, feeling convinced that 1 am right, and that four-fifths of the residents are with me.

I cannot agree with " Yelroc " that mem bera of Road Boards should constitute a Licensing Bench, with power to act without consulting the wishes of the people, because in their election woman has no voice. 1 maintain that everyone, irrespective of sex, above the age of twenty should have a voice in the licensing questiou ; neither do I approve of the system of going arouud begging signatures, either for or against granting the license to a house. I. think a fair way to arrive at the wishes'of the people would be to entrust the matter to the police, whose duty it would be to wait upon all residents, whether ratepayers or not, of both sexes, above the age of twenty, once a year, and ascertain their opinions (strictly privately) with regard to the license of each house in the -district in which they reside; the result of the inquiry to be handed over to the Bench for their guidance at the regular annual sitting ; a majority of the votes to be decisive either way, providing the police has no charge ef breach of the ordinance against the applicant, who obtains a majority in favor of his license. Of course no new license would be granted at quarterly meetings.—l am, &c, Matl-a. Port Chalmers, December 23.