LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5128, 30 August 1877, Page 2

LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ MEETING.

An adjourned meeting of the licensed victuallers was held yesterday at the Polytechnic, for the purpose of discussing what measures should be taken in reference to the Local Option Bill now before the Assembly. There was a large attendance, and amongst those present in response to an invitation were Mr. Hunter and Mr. Travers, the members for the city. Mr. R. J. Duncan was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, viz., to consult with the representatives for the city as to what action should be taken in reference to the Local Option Bill, and he was very glad to see those members present. He had certainly felt surprised that such a Bill should have gone so far as the second reading with so little opposition. He objected to the principle of the Bill, which he did not think was at all likely to pass through committee in the shape in which it was printed. If it did, a state of anarchy and collapse of credit would ensue which would be very injurious to the general trade and commerce of the country. Mr. Maginitt, as chairman of the former meeting held at the Star Hotel on Monday last, explained what had been done on that occasion, and was glad to see Mr. Travers- present. It was the opinion of the licensed victuallers that Mr. Travers had not done justice to their interests; but he was here to explain the matter for himself. The licensed victuallers had been asked to what clauses of the Bill they objected. Well, the fact was they objected to the Bill altogether. He referred to the various provisions of the Bill as most oppressive, the placing the power of veto in the hands of a bare majority of adults, and pointed out that unless a compensation clause was introduced it would be manifestly most unjust ; but, apart from that, the licensed victuallers objected to the Bill in toto, as not only harsh and unjust, but altogether unnecessary. He denied that drunkenness was on the increase, or that the present licensing system inflicted any injustice on the general public. If there was any necessity for fresh legislation on the subject the licensed victuallers would cordially assist in promoting such a measure as should not only be beneficial to themselves but to the general community. Mr. Travbiis, M.H.R., said he was invited to attend the meeting so that he could hear the views of the licensed victuallers and others ; but he was not there to explain his views on the Bill, as his remarks on it would be given in another place. The Local Option Bill was no new thing. The principle involved in it was already embodied in an Act which had passed some time ago, and this present Bill was merely to provide the machinery for carrying it out. That machinery he thought was defective ; and no doubt the Bill, although it had passed its second reading, would be modified in committee, so that it would not have that injurious effect which it might otherwise have on a large

and most respectable body of men. He would advise the licensed victuallers to appoint a committee to draw np resolutions which might be embodied as clauses in the Bill, and it would not cost them much to have these drawn up by a professional man, and he would be happy to support their views as far as he could whilst preserving the principle of the Bill, which, he contended, involved no injustice. As far as he conscientiously could, he would he gbui to assist them ; and so he had no doubt would his colleague, Mr. Hunter. The licensed victuallers, of course, would object to the Bill in toto ; but he did not think that would be the most advisable course for them to pursue. He approved of the principle of the Local Option Bill, which he believed was a good principle ; but still a good principle might fail in practice, if it was attempted to give effect to it in a wrong manner so os to injure a body of respectable people carrying on a legitimate business reSP Mr ab HcNTBR, M.H.8., said he had attended this meeting because a wish had been expressed that he should he there, but he hoped this would not be drawn into a precedent for members of Parliament to be called upon to express their views on questions pending whilst the House was in session, as it might place members in an awkward position. His views on this question were well known. He entertained a strong feeling that the principle of the Bill—leaving the power to grant or refuse licenses for the sale of alcoholic liquors in the hands of the people—was a Bound one, and he was to let this power rest in their hands. He did not think that the evils which it was said would result from the passing of the Bill would take place, and it would no doubt be considerably altered in committee as to some of its provisions which were imperfect. The Bill had passed the second reading, and therefore the principle of it was confirmed, and so strong an opinion he entertain of the soundness of that principle that he would rather abandon his position as one of the representatives of this city than change his views on the subject. As to the details of the Bill, if resolutions were drawn up by a committee, as suggested by his colleague, Mr Travers, and a copy forwarded to him, he would, in his place in the House, support them as far as he could conscientiously do so. Having said this, he would ilsk to be allowed to retire, and leave the meeting to discuss the question further as they might see fit. Mr. Travers said he thought this course was the proper one for his colleague and himself to adopt, and now that Mr* Hunter and himself had expressed their view to the meetting, he (Mr. Travers) would also ask leave to Both gentlemen then left the room, and the business of the meeting proceeded. The Chairman moved a vote ef thanks to Mr. Hunter and Mr. Travers for their attendance at the meeting, which was agreed to. Mr. Maqinitt said, in his opinion, the interview between the meeting and their representatives in Parliament had been far from satisfy "Voice ; Yon ought to have told them so when they were in the room. Mr. Maginity: So I would if they’d not gone away so quick. Mr. Maginity resumed, repeating that he considered the interview had been far from satisfactory. Mr. Hunter told them plainly and straightforwardly that he believed in the Local Option Bill, and Mr. Travers, without being quite so clear, said pretty much the same. He thought both these gentlemen , mi"ht have remained to have heard what the meeting had to say about the Bill. If it became law as it present stood, the publicans ; would he placed under a reign of terror, and , mnch injustice would be done. If drinking i was a crime let them prohibit the importation , of the article and its manufacture ; but so long , as the article was made and imported people , would use it, and it was for the Legislature to ; see that it was so used as not to be abused. He himself was not compelled, to keep a , public-house in order to get a living. He had , got his living in other ways before, and could again. He was not making a fortune by keeping a public-house ; hut he chose to keep one, and it suited him, and so long as his house was conducted properly he did not see ■ why the Legislature should interfere, and leave it to a bare majority of men, women, and children in the neighborhood to shut up his house without giving him compensation. It was a mistake to leave the power of granting or refusing a license to the people. A properly constituted Licensing Bench was the right tribunal for the' purpose. He hoped that some other gentlemen present would express their views. Mr. Koxbcbgh expressed his disapproval of the Bill, as altogether unnecessary. He did not apprehend so much danger from it as some did, and it was not likely to be passed in its present shape. It would be so hacked about in committee that nobody would know it for the same , Bill when it came out. He characterised several of its provisions as most absurd, and quoted the' clauses. It sought to place the power of vetoing a license in the hands of people not competent to give an intelligent opinion upon the question. Girls eighteen years old and people who might happen to live in a locality for a week or two were to have the power of saying whether or not a hotel should he shut up, and no compensation given to the landlord. Mr. Gillon expressed it as his opinion that the Bill might be so modified as not to inflict injustice, and considered that its passing in an amended form would calm agitation, and leave the teetotallers without a grievance. He would be happy to assist in drawing up a set of resolutions to he embodied as clauses in the Bill, which he thought would have this effect. Mr. Gillespie pointed out that hotels were not established for the convenience of people living near them (in whom it was proposed to place the power of veto) so much as for travellers.’ At his own place he had large stables, and his customers mostly came from the country—from the Hutt, Karon, Makara, &c„ and were not most of Mr. Coker’s customers, travellers ? and was it not so, more or less, with'all hotelkeepers'? Hotels were wanted by the public. At Karori the place was positively d ——d for want of a publichouse. (Laughter.) Mr. Mcßeth spoke against the Bill. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to meet at 11 o’clock this morning at the Occidental Hotel to draw up resolutions : Messrs. Maginity, G. Crawford, Thomas, Roxburgh, Staples, Mills, Mace, Downes, Gillon, and Mcßeth. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, who in returning thanks said he was sorry to hear the doctrine laid down that it was not right to call upon members to express their views whilst Parliament was sitting. He thought it an altogether unconstitutional doctrine. It certainly was not so in England. When important measures cropped up, the members met their constituents and discussed matters with them, and he did not see why the same practice should not be followed here. He considered such meetings should be called on all such occasions. The meeting then separated.