The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11,1884 Licensing Committees

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 78, 11 December 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1884 Licensing Committees

«. The enquiry recently held on the management of the Endyniion Hotel, Awahuri, with the remarkable disj closures then made, is likely to attract a good deal of attention in various circles, and especially in those interested in the election of Licensing Committees. The sentimental decision arrived at by the Oroua Licensing Committee was probably, in part, the outcome of a feeling or desire to give fair play to Mr Samuel, who certainly appears to have been in some measure the object of persecution, but also of a considerable amount of "funk,' 1 established by the counter petition, as well as by the evidence in favor of Samuel, given by men who, from their social standing and character for probity, certainly deserved every consideration and weight to be given to any statements they made. The Committee appears to have tried to steer a middle course, and like all trimmers, have offended public opinion. The police made out a sufficiently strong case against the landlord of the Endymion Hotel to justify the closing of the house. This is admitted by the Committee, but in view of the fact that by so doing a great inconvenience would be inflicted on the residents of Awahuri and the travelling public, they refrained from acting on their belief. They had not the courage of their opinions and were apparently glad to adopt that plan which would save them any possible immediate inconvenience. The question naturally arises, from the result of this enquiry, as to the fitness of many of the persons who occupy the position of Licensing Committeemen, to perform the duties they have voluntarily undertaken, or whether the old plan of Commissioners nominated by the Government was not the best. One thing is clear enough — that the latter did their duty without fear or favor, and it is questionable whether the Licensing Committees, elected on the popular voice, are always able and willing to act with strict impartiality and judgment. In some parts of the South Island a return to the old system would be hailed with delight, especially by those hotel keepers who do their best to keep respectable houses, and having an honest desire to cater for the public, yet preserve a manly independence; also by that section of the publio which recognises the necessity which will always exist for such establishments, and which only wishes to see good men in a position where the qualities of strict probity and self-denial are so much needed and so difficult to be exercised.