The Globe. TUESDAY AUGUST 13, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1402, 13 August 1878, Page 2

The Globe. T UESDAY AUGUST 13, 1878.

The question of settling upon a firmer basis all matters connected with Iho vending of spirituous liquors under legislative enactments has perhaps received more consideration at tho hands of both the public and their representatives during the last few' months than has been the case for many years. The licensing laws, it has long been admitted, required revision of more than ordinary character, especially since abolition replaced the provincialistic cm. Beset on every side —as the late Government undoubtedly were when the newly adopted constitutional system had to be practically licked info shape —by calls of all kinds upon their reconstructive and administrative faculties, a variety o* subjects, such as that of amending the licensing laws, had to be postponed until less pressure was brought to bear upon the yearly work of legislation. This year, however, a Licensing Bill, which was authoritatively stated during the recess to have been most carefully and patiently put together, was introduced in tho House of Representatives. That is to say, notice asking leave for its introduction was given by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Sheehan, which leave was, of course, granted. Days have passed by, and nothing further has been heard of the fate of the bantling until, not many hours ago, the singular announcement reached our ears that the Bill was to be withdrawn, and that a new one comprising but a few technical clauses would he put in its place. Tho first measure so elaborately prepared during tho recess contained provisions of many kinds, based upon the various arguments in favor of protecting the interests of tho community at large, as well as those of the publicans, which had been so popularly brought forward during the last two years by exponents of either side. The question of dealing in a comprehensive way with tins certainly dilficnlt Licensing question will thus be shelved for the present, and bo once more neglected to another session. Why, at the very beginning of the present Parliamentary sittings, such an important feature in tho legislative wants of the public should ho sot aside, can bo explained without much difficuly. There is division in the Cabinet in that as well as in other questions. Tho AttorueyGefteral, Mr. Stout, is at tho present moment tho hele-uuive of tho Ministerial team in more ways than one. A glance at their organ, the Ifeiv Zealander, leaves no room for doubt ou tho subject. In tho columns of that paper the AttorneyGeneral has not been bandied ot late in a very tender way. And while on the subject of those unfortunate dissensions in the camp of the Executive, we might draw attention to tho fallacious manner in which tho Ministerial promises made during the recess have beep kept in tho Budget, let alone in tho passing of some of their cardinal measures, such as the Electoral Bill, which in reality are “ neither fish, tlcuh, fowl, nor good rod herring,” Sir George Grey’s “ free breakfast table” has gone tho way of all things, and of pie-crusts especially. So with Mr Ballaucc’s novel idea of taxing beer many faults of commission and omission are to bo found. Tho brewers and tho publicans throughout the colony arc in arms at tho new impost, and at what is called an attempt to introduce a fiscal system, which will bo followed in duo course of time probably, by a complete network of excise taxation. Tho idea o i placing a tax upon colonial made beer is one which doubtless recommends itself to many. But it is iu tLp details of the scheme, left indeed iu a very imDorfoct state, that the Colonial Treasurer seems* to have erred. At a very largely attended meeting of licensed victuallers held yesterday evening, many of those glaring defects and inconsistencies were pointed out, M hen tackling such a ditfi*

cult question as that involved by the introduction of a tax to which people have not been educated, it behoves those having charge of the helm of State to ho practical in their delineations of their now scheme. Tiio idea of tho Government was doubtless that this boor tax would fall upon consumers; hut without a doubt it will come upon those representing one of our most fruitful sources of industry, tho brewery interest, which has already done much towards utilising some of our valuable farming products. For instance 0000 bushels of barley wore ordered from California lately by one Dunedin brewing firm, which shows what

an impetus to a certain class of farming pursuits that industry could give under favorable circumstances. Tho publicans, wo are glad to find, do not as a rule object to pay their share of tho tax, as shown yesterday by tho oxpu’essions of opinion which fell from those present at tho meeting of tho Licensed Victuallers’ Association, Being pressed by the brewers, who hold that what new taxation is imposed upon them should ho borne by the consumers through tho publicans rising their prices, the latter only asked that the now burden ho equally divided with the browing firms, as they had no intention of increasing their retail price. A deputation of Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson, and Auckland brewers is to remonstrate in a few days with tho Ministry in regard to the mistaken details of the now impost, when wo shall bo rather curious to hear how tho Government! will explain away the inconsistences of details of what is facetiously called their “sugar and boor” policy.