LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2497, 8 April 1882, Page 4

LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the above was held at the Scotch Stores, on Thursday evening, April 6th. Mr H. Allen, vicepresident in the chair. There was a good attendance of members, thirty-one being present. The Chairman read the annual report of the committee, who, after stating with regret that the services of Mr J, W. Morton, as president, had been lost, recommended the cheerful acquiescence of the members to the provisions of the new Licensing Act. They expressed a hope, however, that in the next session of Parliament means would be found to expunge some objectionable clauses, which, if stringently carried out, would work greatly to the detriment of members and the publlo. Copies of the Act had been printed for circulation amongst members. Illuminated addresses had been presented to the retiring members of the Christchurch Licensing Bench as constituted under the old Act. The committee felt sure that their expression of opinion therein as to the impartiality of the late Bench would be endorsed by the member*. In this connection they were glad to observe that one of the gentlemen comprising the late Bench, Mr Harman,had been re-elected. The committee paid a pas sing tribute to the memory of the late Mr Hellish, whose conduct while on the Bench commanded the repeat of all. Nothing definite had been settled as to the disposal of the land belonging to the association. A branch of the association called the Licensing Victuallers’ Electoral Protection Society, had been formed for supporting the candidates whom the association selected to represent their interests. Stock of the assets of the association had been taken. The committee had met a delegation of the temperance conference on February 7th, when the nominations for the licensing committees in and around Christchurch had been amicably arranged. In the past year twenty meetings had been held, in which the greatest agreement was displayed. During the year the Association had been joined by thirty-four members, or in other words had more than doubled its numbers.

The report was adopted, as was also an attached balance-sheet, which had been audited by Messrs W. Hockley and 0, Louisson. A letter wes read from the secretary of the of the Auckland L.Y.A., asking the cooperation of the association in endeavoring to have removed 2a extra duty on spirits, which when imposed was promised to be removed, when other duties rendered its retention unnecessary. The letter was referred to the committee with power to act. On the motion of Mr Eichardson, seconded by Mr Knowaley, it was resolved that in future reporters be admitted to all general meetings. Sundry matters of routine having been disposed of, the election of officers was proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were declared duly elected for the ensuing year:—R. Eichardson, president; H. Allen, vice-president; F. A. Bromley, secretary; H. Keene, hon. treasurer; committee, Messrs Knowsley, Coker, McNamara, Hill, and Qodso.

A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring committee.

A special vote of thanks wag accorded to the retiring hon sec., Mr H, Keane, This being the whole of the business the meeting terminated.