THE LICENSING QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5218, 12 December 1877, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR ON THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib,— Having for .some time past noticed the eccentricities of the Licensing Bench in this city, I determined to judge for myself of the wisdom or folly of their latest decisions, and to this end I have visited the localities of Duff’s Hotel in Cuba-street, and the Princess Hotel, adjoining the Theatre in Tory-street, and I have also looked over the respective buildings. The conclusion I have arrived at is that the sooner these antiquated-stop-to-progrcss-Licensing-Commissioners are removed the better, both in the interests of temperance and morality. In the interests of temperance in that, to my mind, it is much better to encourage the erection of a superior class of drinking shops, seeing that they cannot, and ought not, to be put down altogether ; and in that of morality that it is better such houses should be openly licensed, and to police surveillance, than be smaller l * Wellington Clubs,” which they will otherwise undoubtedly become, for I hear that already in one case (I don’t refer to either of the above houses) members are being enrolled at 2s. 6d. per annum, and inanother Is. membership, inevasiou of the licensing laws. I consider that the houses above referred to are a credit to their respective districts, and more likely to prove a benefit than an injury tp the inhabitants. I notice with pain the descent upon the Court of the professors of religion. They seemed to me to be quite out of place: for I consider they cannot prevent a man or woman drinking what he or she has a mind to. Much better for them to turn their attention to the estabblishment of a hospital for inebriates, seeking to benefit the comparatively few who take too much, rather than to interfere with the freedom of those who, like themselves, probably take just enough to do them good, but who, unlike them, are unable to lay in a stock.

I don't know how true it may be, but I have heard that Mrs. Power owes her license to'the interest exerted in her favor by one person, so that it looks as if the present licensing Bench is entirely led. I am not objecting to the issue of the license in question, only I think that if the Bench considered it advisable to issue this particolar license because the house is thickly surrounded by similar firstclass hotels, and cost £7OOO, they ought to have granted .those applied for .in neighborhoods where hotels are not so numerous, and am surprised'the commissioners cannot realise the fact that as population increases and spreads the usual places of amusement and accommodation become necessary. Let it be affirmed that no more licenses for new houses shall be issued for three years to come, and then depend upon it no one will go to any special outlay for this particular branch of trade, and such individual, acts of injustice cannot be perpetrated as in the case of the refusals referred to.—l am, &c., Newcomer.