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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 956, 29 June 1881, Page 2

Sir William Fox’s introduction of the elective element of the Licensing Commissioners, or Committee, as they are termed in the Licensing Bill, is of the most importance. Clause 12 provides for the appointment of the Committee by the Governor; but the great advocate of Local Option stuck to his colors ; and as an amendment moved “ That the Committee consist of persons to be elected annually by the ratepayers of the district.” This was carried on a division by 3-1 to 19, and the result, we are told, was received with cheers.

The precise nature of the “ cheers ” we cannot vouch for. Some may have been congratulatory, some ironical, and others indifferent. It is, however, claimed by advanced Good Templars that the carriage of the amendment is a triumph of.great magnitude for the cause Sir William espouses. Whether this is so or hot will remain to be seen. There are evils both on the side of nomineeism and that of-election. But we differ from many of our contemporaries who roundly state that the election card plays into the hands of the publican. The Act will certainly contain (as the Bill does) the usual restrictions as to the eligibility of candidates ; any of whom having even an indirect interest —or any even more remote than mere “ indirect ” interest will be disqualified ; so that there is no fear that the publicans themselves can secure the election of any person who would not be equally eligible as a nominee. And, assuredly, while we are protesting against power being taken from the people to govern themselves, the right of personal choice by election on such a large question is a privilege that was hardly dreamed of a year ago. For ourselves, we doubt that any marked or radical improvement will be made, even w'ith the privilege in hand ; but there is this to consider : If the Committee run counter to the wishes of the majority of the ratepayers —the power behind the Committee —w r ho are the most to be considered, means will be found to bring about a remedy. If local option is to be a reality and not a sham, a Committee should have no alternative, after carefully weighing the circumstances, from granting the prayer of a petition, let it be for or agaiiist a license being granted or renewed. The Nominee Commissioners, with all due respect to them, are Czar-like autocrats in their way. They are the embodiment of local option : and if they think an hotel is wanted or not, they grant or refuse a license, notwithstanding representations that may be made to the contrary. They waste the time of the public, keeping them dangling about the place of meeting four times a year, until sometimes more than half the day is gone. Like all nominees they are beyond the reach and control of public opinion, and suffer quite as much from the infirmities of favoritism as any elected body is likely to do. For these reasons we congratulate Sir William Fox, for the first time, in the success of his amendment. But if this privilege of election is to be any practical improvement on nomineeism, the term of office must be reduced from two years. The election must be annual for any control to be exercised by the electors. Possibly this has not escaped notice, although not embodied in the amendment. A Committee may do a great many things in opposition to the general wish, in the course of twro years. So much so, indeed, as to destroy any benefits that might come from election, in itself. A Committee whose term of office is two years will sit at least on eight quarterly and two annual adjudications ; and, in that time, if there are any underlying interests to serve, it can be done with impunity, and the real benefits of election fall to the ground. The quarterly sittings are only for the purpose of reviewing or transferring licenses, and as the real question of election comes on at the annual sitting, at wnich time alone can new 7 licenses be granted, it is quite sufficient to test the capability of members. If they are fit for their duty, they can be re-elected, if unfit, rejected. Members of other local bodies have to retire in rotation, and we do not see any good reason for departing from that principle in the Licensing Committees.