WELLINGTON LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5377, 21 June 1878, Page 5

WELLINGTON LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The establishment of a Licensed Victuallers’ Association in this city was celebrated by an inaugural banquet at the Metropolitan Hotel last evening. The banquet was held in the spacious dining-room attached to Mr. Beatty’s Betel, and the manner in which the tables were laid bespoke a great amount of really good taste and attention. The catering was all that could be desired, and the usual feature of the Metropolitan—that of a dinner a la Suae —was observed on thisjoccasion. Thera were about sixty guests in attendance. By virtue of his office as President of the Association, Mr. John Maginity occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by Mr. P. Buckley, Mr. Hollister, and Mr. James Brown, and on his left by Mr. Nathaniel Valentine, hia Worship the Mayor (who arrived during the dessert), and Mr. George Fisher. The vice-chairs were filled by Messrs. J. E. Coker, M. L. Marks, and D. Stuart (of Messrs. Stevenson aud Stuart, merchants). Ample justice having been done to the good things provided, the Chairman read letters of apology for uou-attendanoe from Messrs. G. E. Barton, M.H.R., G. Hunter, M.H.E,,, the Hon. Mr. Ballance, and Sir "William Fitzherbert, The Chairman regretted that these gentlemen were unable to attend, because he should have liked to have seen the city representatives and a Minister of the Crown present at the inaugural banquet of the association.

The Chairman then proposed “The Queen,” which was drunk amid every demonstration of loyalty, the whole company singing the National Anthem.

The CHAIEMAjr then proposed “ His Excellency the Governor.” It needed little from him to commend this toast. Ever since his arrival in New Zealand) the Marquis of Normanby had. identified himself with the people, and he was certain everyone would regret the termination of his Excellency’s term of office as her Majesty’s representative here. As a very hnmblo unit, ha (the Chairman) only hoped that the day was far distant when the Marquis of Normanby would take his departure from these shores. Me felt certain that the toast would be honored as it deserved to be. The toast was drunk most enthusiastically.

JJong, “The Englishman,” Mr. Hollister. The Chaihmajt then proposed “ His Excellency’s Responsible Advisers,” He was sure they could all drink this toast with the enthusiasm that it was worthy of, notwithstanding any differences of opinion that might exist politically. Whatever the opinion of the electors might be, they must all come to the conclusion that his Excellency’s advisers were doing. what they considered best for the interests of the colony. The Ministry was now engaged in a very important task—the settlement of the native difficulty, and he (the chairman) felt sure the whole company wished them success. There was in the present Ministry a gentleman who had grown up with the colony. He referred to the Native Minister (Mr. Sheehan), a gentleman who had been hom in the colony, and of whom ho (the chairman) believed the colony would have every reason to be proud. (Hoar, hear, and applause). He had much pleasure in proposing the toast “ His Excellency’s Responsible Advisors.”

The toast was drunk with musical honors. The, Chairman called ouMr.P. Buckley to respond. ' Mr. Booklet said he did not undersf and why the chairman had called upon him to respond to the toast. He (Mr. Buckley) regretted that, none of the. Ministers were present, but ho had no doubt they would bo able to speak for themselves when occasion required. Song, “A cup of tea” (Genevieve de Brabant), Mr. J. J. Beatty. Xtuet, “ King of Spain” (Maritana), Messrs J. Maginity and Hollister. Encored. Mr. D. Stuart (one of the vice-chairmen) proposed the toast of “ Our Members of the House of Eepresentatives.” Before proceeding further, he desired to say how much pleasure ho felt at being present at the inaugural banquet of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. Union was strength, and the association was calculated to do a great amount of good. With regard to the toast he had the honor to propose, they were all aware that the next session of the General Assembly would soon come upon them, and he hoped the members for the city of Wellington would come to the front. There would be several important questions to be dealt with, including the incidence of taxation and the imposition of an iucomo and property tax ; aud he hoped the Wellington members would come to the front in any discussions that might arise on these aud other important topics that might crop up during the session. He had much pleasure in proposing their health. The toast was drunk with musical honors. Song, “ Mignonette,” Mr, Bailey. Soug, “The good Ehiuo wine,” Mr. Macfarlauo.

Mr. M. L. Makes (one of the vice-chairmen) said the next toast had been placed in his hands. He regretted that such was the case, because ho felt that ho was inadequate to do justice to it. Ho would not occupy moro of their time than was necessary in proposing a toast of so important a character. Had he known beforehand that lie would have been called upon to propose the toast of the evening, he would have come there prepared with a kind of inaugural address. Therefore he claimed their indulgence if he failed in doing justice to so important a toast as that which had been entrusted to him at so short a notice. If, however, he was inadequate to do justice to the toast, he trusted they would believe him sincere when he declared that the newlyestablished Licensed Victuallers’ Association had his best Wishes and sympathy for its success ; and he believed that there would be fewer to pass sneering remarks on members of the trade if they knew who they really were. (Hear, hear, and applause). Without any farther remark he begged to propose “ Prosperity to our Association.” The toast was drunk most enthusiastically. The Chairman, in rising to respond, was received with loud applause. Hesaidthathedid not come there with any grandiloquent speech. He had only to return thanks for the manner in which the toast had been received. He felt certain that if some persons knew the members of the trade, aud the objects they had in view, they would not pass such sneering remarks about them, or allow their feelings to get the better of their judgment occasionally. The members of the trade had anything but a desire to encourage drinking habits amongst the people, or to encourage drunkenness. Par from it. They desired, as men engaged in a certain commercial pursuit, to establish good houses for the accommodation of the public, and so far from encouraging habits of intoxication, they wished to repress them as much as possible. To have drunken people coming about their houses was detrimental to the establishments they conducted, and therefore they could not be justly accused of encouraging drunkenness. He took it that a well-conducted public-house was a necessity in any properly organised community, and the licensed victuallers would really applaud the efforts of Good Templars and the like if they only set to work with a view to reclaiming those unfortunate people to whom drink was a curse. The question was asked—What was this association established for ? It was said it was formed for the purpose of bringing pressure to bear on their members, and exercising a degree of political power that would result in benefiting the interests of the trade, to the detriment of those of the public generally. No such thing. The association was established for the purpose of fostering a feeling of good-will amongst the members of the trade, and they would be satisfied if, like any other class of men engaged in a particular line of business, they received such treatment and consideration at the hands of the Legislature as would he equally just to themselves and the public at large. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Songs—Messrs. Williams and N. Valentine. Mr. P. Booklet proposed “ His Worship the Mayor.” He had listened to the remarks of the chairman in responding to the last toast, aud he must say that he had never heard a more charitable speech in his life. Had he arrived while the chairman was making that speech he should have thought he was attending a Eechabite meeting. The speech of the president was an exceedingly charitable one, and he only hoped that other bodies would speak as charitably of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association as the Licensed Victuallers’ Association (through its president) had spoken of them. (Hear, hear.) He had no desire to speak with a view of gaining applause. On one occasion the great Dan. O’Connell, when making a great speech, and finding that his audience did not applaud, asked his listeners the question, “ Are we not the finest peasantry in the world ?” and to a man they answered, “ We are.” Now, without flattering the licensed victuallers, this he would say, that they were as fine a class of men as were to be found in the City of Wellington. He must say he did not like the manner in which they were treated when they had to apply for a renewal of their licenses. Their oases were called on; they were brought up to the bar before three justices, who had little or no sympathy for them or the line of business they pursued ; in fact, they were often opposed to them ; but it the policeman cried out “No objection,” they were allowed to pass, as it were, and their licenses were granted. He hoped soon to see the law so altered as to do away with the necessity of the licensed victuallers being subjected to this. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Buckley, coming more immediately to the toast, paid a very high eulogium on Mr. Dransfield for the able and efficient manner in which he discharged the dw.'aes of Mayor of the city. Song, “The death of Nelson,” Mr. J. Maginity. His Worship the Mayor was received with loud applause on rising to return thanks. He had many times thought that the licensed viotuallars had been rather severely dealt with by the public. What was more useful to the public than a good and respectably conducted hotel ? When he went from home, he always made for the best hotel he could find, and who gave people a more hearty welcome than the respectable hotelkeeper ? Of course there were black sheep in every flock, and the respectable hotelkeepers were made to suffer by the faults of some of their brethren. The hotelkeepers were blamed for everything, but he, as a merchant, often felt that a little more charity ought to ho displayed towards them. In fact people generally ought to endeavor to be a little more charitable to each other. (Hear, hear.) They were all endeavoring, in various ways, to make New Zealand a great and prosperous country. (Applause.) Song, Mr. Haines. Eecitation, “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” Mr. Overton. Mr. J. E. Coker proposed “Prosperity to Kindred Associations.” He said ho had had the pleasure of belonging to the Licensed VicAssociation of Canterbury, an association that had been in existence for the past eighteen years. He did not know how that association stood financially, but this he did know—that the Canterbury Association had a splendid property, consisting of several acres of land close to Christchurch, which was laid down in English grass and planted with English trees. It was their intention to found au institution there for the accommodation and education of the children of deceased members of tho trade. [Mr. O. Moody : There is something sensible in that.] Tho Canterbury Association had also given a good helping band to the wives and families of members who had passed away. He hoped the time would come when, as in the case of the Government, there would be one general licensed victuallers’ association in New Zealand. He believed there was a liberal Government in power, who would sec that justice was done to them. The licensed victuallers had no occasion to g 6 hat in hand, bowing and scraping. As a class, they only wanted justice like any other section of the people, and by perseverance he had no doubt they would get what they desired. He did not believe that a single man at that table wished to encourage drunkenness for the mere sake of personal gain, and it was unjust and uncharitable on the part of some people to assert that they did. Ho had much pleasure in proposing tho toast ,’of “ Prosperity to Kindred Associations," aud he trusted they would drink it with musical honors. The toast was trunk with mqsioal honors, Song, Mr. Sample, ~ His WoBSHIP the Mayor, in proposing

“The Councillors,’coupled with the naine of Councillor Fisher,” said it was his opinion that Wellington now possessed the best Cpuncilit ever had.’ ::

The toast was drunk with musical honors. Councillor Fisher responded at some length. Several other toasts were proposed and duly honored, and the company broke up about midnight. .