CORRESPONDENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2214, 18 October 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

THE AUSTRALIAN TARIFF

[To tub Euitou.] Sir, —Under the heading “Unrest in Persia,” the other day a cablegram appeared in your columns informing us that “Priests at Ispahan are preaching a boycott of foreign .roods, etc.” 1 could not help tlunfr mg how readily, with the substitution of Melbourne for Ispahan; and the addition of the word “Protectionist” before priests, application might he made of it to Australia, under the new tariff. Our New Zealand tariff wall is quite high enough, but not so high as that recently set up by Mr. Dealcin No wonder there has been wide-spread consternation right through the Commonwealth, and indignant protests have been made by both British and Continental merchants and manufacturers. To say the least it is a tarift that is not calculated to promote among Continental people a friendly fraternal feeling towards Australia, and was apparently devised with little or no regard to the fact that tlio people of Great Britain are kith and kin of Australians. —I am, etc., ( J. G. COX. Gisborne October 17.

THE COSMOPOLITAN CLUB CHARTER.

[To tub Editor.]

Sir,—ln your issue this morning you publish a telegram from the Hon. J. Carroll in reference to the above subject, which is worthy of more than passing notice. In defending the granting of the Club Charter, he says i “Gisborne had as much right to a charter as any other pait of the colony.” How does this harmonise with the statement made on Monday last by the Colonial Secretary, when lie said: “For the future these charters would not be granted in any case at all where the public i-iyto was expi'.'ffseil as it was in Gisborne”? If the public vote be thus respected in other electorates, why was it ignored, in Gisborne? Or, to put it conversely ; if, in face of the heavy vote hostile to license, it is right to inflict an additional one on Gisborne, the decision of the Cabinet to refuse a charter to other electorates when the vote is similar, is manifestly unjust. The decision to respect the public sentiment in other places clearly proves the injustice done to Gisborne. ‘ Of course, I am ignoring the extremely weak defence set up by Dr. Findlay that the charter was promised to the local club IS months ago", for the simple reason that this promise was made after the vote of Gisborne was registered, and not before. Oil So more, Air. Carroll, in referring*to club licenses, says that —“The question of their existence is dependant on the will of the p-aople.” Never did a man give his case more -completely away than the hon. gentleman has in this statement.' What does ho moan by “the will of the peoolc” ? Does he mean the will of 33 members (which was authoritatively stated in your issue of to-day as tlio total, number) of the Cosmopolitan Club, or the will of the 2119 No-License against 1228 Continuance voters of Gisborne?. Evidently Air. Carroll believes in the former, for the granting of the charter has been “dependant on the will of the ” 53. This -is democracy with a vengeance! In' this extraordinary telegram, Air. Carroll goes on to say: “Clubs are now, by our legislation, placed on the same footing as licensed houses*” This is not so, and I am surprised that a Cabinet Alinister should make such a statement. AVliat are the facts? Simply these. —The present licensing legislation gives a constable power to enter licensed premises, arrest, a person for drunkenness, and seo that the law is not otherwise broken; hut no constable can enter a club, even if lie knows excessive drinking is going on. Only the Inspector of Police at Napier is authorised to enter. Any other police officer is a trespasser. At 10 o’clock the bar is closed, but by means of the locker system, drinking can be carried on as long as the thirst continues. Further, against licensed premises tlio police can take direct action, but with a chartered club any breach of tlio law can only he reported to the Colonial Secretary by the Inspector of Police. So much for Mr. Carroll’s statement that tlio “Clubs are now by our legislation, placed on the same footing as licensed houses.” The lion, gentleman’s interpretation of the “will of. the people,” anil of licensing legislation, remind me of ■i Afr. Cobb, member of the United States Congress, who, whilst making a speech, was brought to an abrupt standstill, and hopelessly asked: “Where am I at?”—l am, etc., C. PALK. Organising Agent /seiv Zealand Alliance. Gisborne October 17.