A Grand Opportunity

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 136, 16 June 1888, Page 3

A Grand Opportunity

Seeing that the Government of New Zealand depends so much for its revenue from the sale of intoxicating li•quora, it would not be a bad idea Cor them to take over the entire business •of hptelkeeping in the colony. By an Act of Parliament, which might be .called the Licensed Victuallers Annexation Bill, all privileges or rights of innkeepers under the Licensing Act of 1881 should be annulled or repealed, «nd existing hotels taken at the Property Tax valuation. The profits of the trade for the first year alone would more than meet this first outlay, while the buildings would remain as a valuable asset. The circle of the Civil Service would have to be enlarged considerably so as to include chambermaids, barladies, and other hotel employes, while superintendents to manage each hotel might be selected -tram, the ranks of members of the House of Representatives. Many a war-worn politician would infinitely prefer the ease and comfort which may be obtained in managing a Government hotel, to the " cold without" of a seat iv the Upper House. In place of accepting " The Chiltern Hundreds" he would be the recipient of a license — or commission would sound better— as landlord. ' In coßsequence -of the employes, from the highest licensee to the humblest boots, being •enrolled in the Civil Service, studied politeness and good attendance would l>e the distinguishing characteristics of the whole. By following out this suggestion a revolution would be created in the trade, and the whole debt of the colony, "liquidated" in a brief span of years.