The Needs of Ohau.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 March 1914, Page 2

The Needs of Ohau.

A HOSTEL PItOPUSED.

An CJliau resident whose pen ••may" have outstretched the bounds of actuality, sends The Chronicle the report appended :-

A largo and representative openair meet in g was held in the Town Hall here last night, for the purpose of trying t<» induce the (t»v-ei-nnieut to amend the Licensing Act so as to give lieensii.u '■""s}mittces ihe power to move a Yu ,/CV " from any part of their eleci'V.-te, to another instead of 011I3' '■•'if a mile as at present. <>u the motion of Mr Begg, se<-onded by Mr Port, Mr Buchannan was voted to the chair. Mr Buchanan, on taking 1 lie chair, proceeded to explain the reasons why the above proposal should be given effect to, and instanced three places in this constituency where hotels were* required viz: AVliy can T, Took * marrow, and O'how, where they were practically all teetotallers,'required an hotel more than the other two places. As far as he personally was concerned (went on the speaker) he did not care whether they got a license or not, but he wanted to see the place go ahead, and for that reason lie would give the movement his hearty support. I have not, he continued, touched drink since my first wife got married the second time, and I hap-

pened to be af the wedding. I'll

admit there were a few who took one too many. In conclusion the speaker said he hoped that those present would not think that he had any personal motives, because he had an admirable corner section for an hotel (applause).

Mr Tommy Cameron was the next speaker, and went on to say that he would also give the movement his hearty support, and thought he could help a good deal as he had had ten years' experience in this particular business, and consequently knew the Minister for Internal Affairs fairly well, and would make one of a deputation io him (hear! hear!)

Mr Coldstream said, on rising, that he had come to the meeting io oppose the establishment of an hotel here, but after healing the two previous speakers, he was inclined to support ii, as an hotel hero, where we were all teetotallers would give the place a fillip, and he had no hesitation in saying that a "pub" would pay well. We all know that the O'how river oflen went dry, and felt sure it either meant hard graft to dig wells or have a "pub" (loud applause).

Mr Hennessey, who was received with applause, said he was very grateful for the invitation to attend ihe meeting, especially as it was outside where he could see more than three stars. Ho could assure them that by having a license he-re the place would go ahead by leaps and bounds. He said as soon as your hotel is built you will have a policeman ; he will want a residence, and in time you will want a gaol. I believe they have a gaol reserve here, which goes io show the forethought of the former Government. After this there would sure to follow a bowling (dub, and' perhaps a gentlemen's (dub also; and then you would be pretty certain to get a courthouse (applause).

Mr Staples: Ladies arid Gentlemen, drinking* is alright in moderation, and I have known a few people who were staunch prohibilonisls overstep the mark, so \vz wani to be careful, and if people '•hick <o beer, which contains only about 4 per cent, of alcohol, they would find it a grand tonic and a sine cure for insomnia, if you ['drink enough of it: but, of course, it was too far to hare to go to Levin every time yon got married or had a birthday or a christening, which ((tines very often (applause). 31 r Port, the next speaker, said !he agreed with Mr Staples, and [ said we should look after the invalids. Only last week (went on Ihe speaker) one of his mother-in-laws died, and he had to go all the way to Levin to drown his sorrow. If people only made the rule of having one drink at a time, and only one before the last, and never touched Hock and Doris, there would be no harm in drinking at all (loud applause). Mr Woolerman said ho was a fanner, and speaking from that point of view said, as far he was concerned, would oppose a pub being placed hero, but you must, in a case of this kind, put your personal feelings in the waste paper basket. It was the poor animals we should Hi ink of. said he had lost, iii fifteen years, one cow. a nanny goat and a pi go. -Tic <■<•■■' (the besi lie ever owned) died ■ / w (lie previous month. He s:i>m'-»i-had io go away up to the (i for a boltie "!' gin. and who-. got back the cow was >h (Voices: "How long .were von away..") (Chairman: "Order-, please!'") So T had In put lite gin in the pig tub. After a little discussion the following moTion was moved by Mr Ciiiineas: "That a deputation con-

sistiug of Messrs Hennessey, Begg, Buchanan, Port, Staples, aim Wolfe wait upon the Minister oi Internal Affairs and place the whole matter before him." Mr Wolfe seconded, and in doing so thought that they should have gone further; he should like to see the Barmaids Act, amended, as some of tflem wore beginning to look old, and in the course ol fifty yrv.w. they would have none: iki«"~wnuM be a pity, w we all lTeugiii*- ihat most of them have : -"vJ^ ; ■' lk * n ° Wi, y them. }■ \7^ l}r - the motion was put, and with acclamation.

it was decided to hold another meeting next week, to pick a man for Parliament. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated a most interesting meeting.