Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1894. The Licensing Election.

Manawatu Herald, 1 March 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1894. The Licensing Election.

Our readers hardly need reminding that the election of Licensing Committees takes place in March. There may or there may not be a hot fight between the Trade and the Prohibitionists, but the way the Act is framed it appears probable, should one-half, of the voters on the roll record a vote, some curious results will follow. We have before commented upon the Act, it is one we do ■noHik'e, l -an<h\vhrtt is possible under its provisions does not seem to have as yet been considered. It is known that the voters may choose to direct that the number of licenses in a district shall be reduced. If thi3 is carried the committee shall reduce the 4 number (not exceeding, however, one-fourth of the number of licenses in auy district) in any manner they may think equitable. There are words used " having regard to the convenience of the public and the particular requirements of the several localities within such district ; " but, unless the new committees are to be better than the old ones we can easily gnage the value of their "regard." It appears to us that this is just the point which needs looking after. The committee is elected by the voters within the electoral districts, and the Otaki district extends from Wellington .jtp Rangitikei. There is no such thing as a community of interests and 'it is just as likely that the whole committee may be practically elected by the nucleus of inhabitants residing in one particular township. This is not such a stretch of imagination but if it was so thought it will readily be conceeded that the, majority of the committee could thus easily be secured. Where there is a possibility there is always a danger of such a chance becoming an accomplished fact. We do not know the exact number of licensed houses within the electoral district, but it is somewhere close on twenty. Now these licenses are scattered among several small townships, and, say that one township secured the majority on the committee, it is unlikely that theße representatives would be inclined to .adopt the " happy despatch " business with the licenses in ther own town, though they would have to obey the Act by reducing the number in the district. It is therefore possible in despite of the vote being carried for a reduction in the number of licensed premises within the district that One I particular township might retain all the licenses now in existences, and, to accomplish this, wipe out all the licenses in a neighboring township. This is the law and though we are not the prophets, still the position is unsatisfactory enough to arouse more interest being taken in, the question than appeirifclb be tspn at present)- We shWcF Hope tbie^good seme of the electors will ensure & better class of ffen ottitfne'\ti£w licensing committee than were on the old committees, but still the old ones only became so bad from the lack of interest displayed at eleotion times, and what has happened before may occur again. To make our case plain wa will instance what may take place even in this district. Supposing Otaki succeeded in returning a strong majority, and onefourth of the total number of licenses had to be reduced, it would mean that out of twenty existing licenses, five would have to be closed. Out of the townships having more than one license, we find Otaki with 5, Foxton 4, Shafcuon 2, Mflittkau 8,

"about Wellington we do not know how :they; ; stand. It would be " good business " on Otaki's part to close all houses at Manalian, but supposing Manakau was well enough represented to take care of itself, then five out of the number held by Foxton and Shannon, which might mean both -of Shannon's and three .of Foxton's. Of course these figures can be twisted anyway about, and Foxton can be quoted as the dreadful example in steadof Ota'ri, but' the illustration makes our contention that the Act should havft made the manner of reducing the numbers oioarer than it has dot)'-, aud l.«y l-oi having so done has left a door open to a grave injustice being perpetrated. It would thus appear advisable that every township should take a deeper interest in the forthcoming election than at first sight appeared necessai 7- .• . . .