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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 828, 28 February 1903, Page 1

uji Will i an In Christchurch neither the publican nor the prohibitionist has grasped the fact that there is a Licensing Bench to elect, and everybody is supremely indifferent about the whole business. Yet the Committees who will be elected will control the administration of the licensing law for three years, and may either strain it for the benefit of the trade or twist it for the bnuefi*-- of the temperance party according to their sympathies. Are we to have an unbiassed committee, with a realisation of the fact that it has got responsibilities, or a wobbly time-serving committee, with no sense of responsibility at all ? The subject is one we recommend to both parties, and particularly to the trade. Upon the' conduct of its public-houses, and the supervision over them of the Licensing Committee will depend its hope of salvation at the nest local option polls. And we know the trade well enough to be confident that unless a stern committee keeps the rod hanging over it, it will soon relapse into the old easy carelessness.— Truth.