THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1882. THE MIDNIGHT LICENSES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2623, 2 September 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1882. THE MIDNIGHT LICENSES.

The first of the quarterly meetings 01 the Licensing Committee since the annual one at which the question of midnight licenses was discussed, took place yesterday. It will be remembered that in the article on this subject written some time ago we argued that as a matter of justice all the licensed houses in the district should be placed on an equality, i.e., either by making them all close at ten o'clock or granting the midnight extension to all who chose to pay for it. The force of this argument has been remarkably exemplified by what took place yesterday. One of the applicants for an extension proved that his loss on one branch of his trade alone amounted to an average of £350 per annum. As we before pointed out, any legislation that thus practically robs one man to enrich another cannot be equitable. The selection may be a matter of caprice ; it may be mere accident; yet the fortunate man who, under the absurdly conservative notions which have up to the present prevailed in the minds of the Licensing Committee is granted this monopoly receives a bonus of at least £SOO per annum at the expense of his neighbour. "We are, therefore, exceedingly pleased to find that the members of the North Christchurch Licensing Committee have had the courage to break through this absurd idea, and grant the midnight extensions asked for. It ia well known that neither the public or the licenseholders require the midnight license; that if eleven o'clock were fixed as

the hour all over the district it would bo better. But the Government or the Legislature hare disregarded this very sensible reqnest. It now only re» mains for the Licensing Committees not to tie themselves np in the mazes of red tape, bat to do the best in the interest* of the public nnder the circumstances in which they find themselves placed. That the closing of the majority of the houses in Christchurch at ten o'clock has had no practical effect in the direction of a diminution of drunkenness is conclusively proved by the reply given to the question asked of Mr. Superintendent Broliam by the Committee. In perhaps the largest' section of Christchurch, at any rate that in which the most publichouses are Bituated, the Committee in their wisdom only granted two extensions Therefore it cannot be said that tha granting of twelve o'clock licenses has had the effect of increasing drunkenness, but rather that the closing at ten o'clock, which has been most inconvenient to the public in a majority of cases, has failed to accomplish that which it was claimed it would do, viz.. repress drinking. We have had two months' experience of the working of the ten o'clock" system, and, apart from the fact that, as we have pointed out, it acts most unjustly towards a large section of the community for the benefit of a few, it has proved a failure just where its supporters thought it would do best. The fact having, as we take it, been established on the clearest possible evidence that the experiment of ten o'clock licenses has failed utterly and completely, nothing now remains but to consult the public convenience by granting the extensions. It is true that twelve o'clock is regarded as being too late, both by the license holders and the public generally, but owing to the vacillation of the Government there is no middle course. If the Committees had—as they ought to havepower to grant eleven o'clock licenses, then the problem would be solved. But they have not, and we only have to do with what is before us, viz., that they are shut up to two courses, either to make all ten o'clock, or all midnight. To do the former would be a great public inconvenience, whilst to pick out one or two is a gross injustice. Hence the Commit l e< a ought, we think, to grant all extensions asked for, taking care, of course, that due supervision is exercised. So much for that point. There is just one matter in -connection with the conduct of the business of the Licensing Committees to which we desire to refer. The worthy Chairman of" the city Committees has undergone sv good deal of training in the same school as the chairmen of the Board of Governors and Board of Education. AH three gentlemen appear to be such tender plants that the mere breath of publicity upon them causes a contraction, like the sensitive plant. We do not see any reason at all for what cannot be called anything else than hole and corner discussions. The members of the Licensing Committees are elected by and responsible to the people. Their views on the important questions submitted to them have just as much right to be publicly discussed and known as those of the City Councillors. Suppose that on such an important question as the purchase of Morten's block the Council were to go into committee, what would the ratepayers sayP Tet this in a smaller degree is just what Mr. Harman and his confreres did yesterday. We contend that on the question of midnight extension versus ten o'clock closing the people have a right to hear the opinions of their representatives, and not that an adjournment should be made to a'back room, and the proceedings conducted in secret conclave. Are the. members of the Licensing Committee afraid or ashamed to speak their mind ? If so the sooner these gentlemen take their leave the better. This system of holding away from the public what they have a right to know is far too rife in' Canterbury in connection with public bodies, and we hope that for the last time the solemn farce of elected members retiring to give their opinions on a public matter in private has been enacted. It may result in the public being enlightened as to the real sentiments of some of the men they Lave elected, and the knowledge wilL no doubt, prove instructive.