The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1772, 5 June 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, JUNE 5, 1882.

The apathy which is often shown among communities with regard to their general interests is, indeed, most surprising; but the utter carelessness of sections of a community when their own particular interests are attacked and at stake is still more so. We are led to make these observations in consequence of the extremely lamb-like manner in which the licensed victuallers in many parts of New Zealand submit to the slanghteiing knife of the Licensing Act. Our remarks may also be said to have special reference to this district. Growling is an immemmial privilege of Englishmen, and if the exercise of that inherent right did any real good, then, most undoubtedly, there would shortly be no further cause for complaint, and everything would be exactly right and proper. But it so happens that something more than mere growling has to be done before a substantial grievance can be rediesscd. The laws of New Zealand are not like those of the Modes and Persians, but can be altered when it is deemed necessary to effect aiiiendiii nts. Now. if ever an Act on the face of the egrth required either extensive amendment, or complete demolition, it is the Licensing Act of last session. From one end of the colony to the other every one knows perb ctly well I hat it is unjust, contradictory, and utterly unworkable. And yet, in

spite of all this, there are but a few of those with whom the measure deals who have arrived at the sensible conclusion that, by pointing out defects and suggesting corrections, much might be done to remedy the seiies of idiotic blunders which have been made. So long as the trade patiently endure the long train of ills which is being inflicted upon them, and make no remonstrance in the right quarter, so long are the Government justified in taking it for granted that the licensed victuallers of the colony are perfectly satisfied with the existing state of affairs. This is simple truth, and cannot be gainsaid. The publicans of Canterbury have long held the premier position in the colony, so far as looking after the real interests of their trade is concerned, at all events. For many years past they have had an association which extends its ramifications throughout the whole of Canterbury. In a recent number of the Lyttelton Times we observe the following paragraph : victuallers throughout the colony are in a quandary, and the fraternity in Christchurch are no better off than their neighbours. The piesent Licensing Act is a terror to them, and yet to question as to what amendments they desire, they find it difficult to frame a reply. The only effectual method of remedying the many defects of last year’s legislation, they say, is to make a clean sweep of the Act from the Statute Book and then start afresh. The Committee of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association feel tire difficulty, and will meet the members to-night to receive, and not to offer, suggestions. It certainly seems strange that a person is not now eligible to keep an hotel till he has mastered the contents and meanings of nearly four hundred contradictory clauses of an Act, in the interpretation of which no two men, legal or lay, can agree.” Why cannot the Westland publicans follow suit in striving to mend the muddle? Kumara nominally possesses a Licensed Victuallers’ Association, and why should the members not meet to consider their own interests ? When the question is brought bofore the Assembly, members will be very glad to receive any information from those who are qualified to speak with authority upon the subject, so that they may have some light thrown upon a matter of which they were in profound ignorance in the last Parliament. We hope to see the hotel-keepers of Kumara take combined action, and that very shortly. No time is to be lost, and the sooner something is done the better.