King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, NOV. 30, 1912 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 522, 30 November 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, NOV. 30, 1912 THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

The meeting called by the Mayor for Monday evening to consider the liquor traffic of the district should attract a good attendance of the public, and it is to be hoped the question will be thoroughly discussed. Viewed impartially there is little doubt that the conditions which have from time to time been imposed on the district, irrespective of the desirea of the people, have not proved satisfactory. The only excuse for differential treatment, particularly when the action takes the form of arbitrary restriction, is resultant benefits, and in the case under review it is more than doubtful if the smallest benefit haß resulted from the course adopted. There is no disguising the fact that the wishes of any isolated community in respect to the liquor traffic carry small weight with the authorities. In the Dominion the question is combatted between strong contending forces whose voting power thrown either way is sufficient to turn the political scale, and the political leader has yet to be found who will grapple this great social question strongly and impartially. When the local option vote was established it was fondly hoped that the question was removed for all time from the realm of politics, and the issues placed before the people would suffice to give effect to the wishes of the people. This fallacy is still upheld upon occasion by interested parties, who at the same time have no hesitation in agitating for any alteration which my suit their own side of the case. In this, as in other great questions, it can serve no permanent purpose to restrict the manifestation of the public will, ana any issues which may appeal to any considerable section of the public should be freely placed before them. In a matter of such importance, involving as it does the domestic conduct of a whole country great issues are at stake, and it is

of the firßt importance that no mistake should be made by reason of insufficient opportunity. Widely different opinions are held upon the liquor traffic, and there should be no let or hindrance to the expression of those opinions. Residents of the King Country are in a position to regard the matter with impartial eyes,and it is to be hoped Monday's meeting will Bee the subject, as it pertains to the King Country, discussed on its merits, apart altogether from the prejudices of faction or party. The conditions which are in operation in the district are either desirable or undesirable. If they can be improved consistently with the principles of good government it is the manifest duty of the people to use every en deavour to effect that improvement. TWO Guinea fir ffinr liTipfi

We understand the contract has been let for the roadirtg of the subdivision of the Ileathcote estate roads. This is as it should be. With reference to the labour question, Mr Graham, the local registry office, has enquiries for work and will be pleased to bear from employers, especially if they can adviso before wanting same, so that suitable men may be picked up. In connection with the metalling; of the Hangatiki-Waitomo road when the County Council officials proceeded to inspect a quarry from which it wan * desired to take motal they were confronted with an unexpected difficulty in the shape of an indignant Maori woman who seated herself on a rock and defied the intruders to touch a stone on the property. By the exercise of that persuasive eloquonce which distinguishes certuin of our public men the difficulty was over come, and an important public work A will proceed without tho preliminary of a race war. In the Melbourne turf slander cuse Adkins v. Wren, the court held that the ringing in was proved and that the pony Ladylike was really True Love. Judgment was given for defendant in regard to the slandor, but the court held that be had exceeded his powers in converting the pony jto his own purposes and detaining j her Plaintiff was awarded £5 on the conversion claim and iMf> for detention of the pony, reduced to a shilling provided the pony be delivered within three days. The Legislative Council of Queensland has amended the Liquor Bill by increasing the percentage of electors required to vote for any resolution from 25 to 50 per cent., and also requiring a three-fifths majority to carry any resolution. A Palmerston exchange states that Mr F. Q'B. Loughnan, S.M. for the Waikato, is to be transferred to Blenheim, tu succeed Mr R. S. Florance. Mr Rawson, of the West Coast, will succeed Mr Loughnan in Wakato. The Te Kuiti Horticultural Society's show will be held in the Town Hall on December 12th. Schedules may be obtanied from tho secretary or at the 1 Chronicle office.

The macter of providing for the maintenance and repairing of roads | that are being metalled, was referred to by Cr Were at last meeting of the County Council, when he drew attention to the necessity of having supplies of metal crushed and stacked at each place the crusher was working on the Arapao road. Jsy having this done the work of repairing the road in future would be minimised. The engineer stated he was having th" matter attended to. On the 21st inst. the New Zealand i Dairy Association, Ltd., {.aid to ita suppliers the sum of £57,900 4s lid. This represents payment for butter fat supplied during the month of October. The payment for the corresponding period last year totalled £42,049 19s 3d. Thus the increase for this year represents the sum of £15,940 5s Sd. The firm of Messrs Grieshalicr and Co., late of Christchurch, have opened I up as watchmakers and jewellers, in Te Kuiti and are carrying a very fine i stock. The firm enjoyed a good reputation in Christchurch an expert watch repairers, and particular attention is to be given to this branch ot the business, which will bo under the direct supervision of Mr Grieshaber. The position of their new business is next to Mr J. Nicholls' store. At a meeting of the Works Committee of the Taumarunui Borough Council held on Tuesday last the matter of a settlement with the late engineer (Mr Spencer) was considered, and an agreement satisfactory to both parties was arrived at. Mr Spencer's original arrangement was that he should roceive 4 per cent, on the whole work done, but only 2 per cent, on any uxcess, if tho estimates were exceeded, and 5 per cent, extra on any savings be might effect on the estimates. The final result is a highly creditable one to overbyody concerned. On an expenditure, so far, of nearly £19,000, there have only been £5,00 in extras, £IOO of which was (one tho water scheme and £4OO on tho drainage scheme. It is also fair toj add that the extras on the drainage i are a result of an advancoin the cost of drain pipes occurring between the time Mr Spencer put in his estimates and the time of accepting the tenders. It was therefore arranged that on the unexpended balance of, roughly, £I2OO, Mr Spencer should be allowed 2 per cent., and it was also decided to give him a testimonial as ,to the quality of the work done, the scheme having proved very satisfactory to the council.