The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1884. THE LICENSING COMMITTEES AND SUNDAY TRADING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 83, 5 March 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1884. THE LICENSING COMMITTEES AND SUNDAY TRADING.

The late elections of Licensing Committees has been, so far as we have learnt, in the majority of instances, satisfactory, and in Auckland in particular the change has already effected a great amount of good—so far as Sunday trading is concerned. The Auckland Herald reports that “yesterday (24th ult.) was the first Sunday under the regime of the City Temperance Licensing Committees, and the result is so far satisfactory, as regards the repression of Sunday trading. The "police report that the day was quieter and fewer cases of persons under the influence than had been known for years past. Not a single arrest was made yesterday for drunkenness, the prisoners in the lock-up on that charge having been arrested on Saturday. A large number of the hotelkeepers loyally obeyed the law, but some of them were at their old tricks, although only four persons were seen throughout the whole day under the influence of liquor. As (hero are other eyes than those of the police upon them, the offenders will probably hear more about the matter at licensing-day. Residents in the vicinity of the Kyber Pass report that there was a great improvement in the state of affairs in that locality—the groups of halfdrunken loiterers who were accustomed from Sunday to Sunday to rendezvous at given points there were nowhere to be seen. As a proof that some hotelkeepers were determined not to be caught napping, it may be mentioned that at a certain public institution one of the inmates took seriously ill, and it was deemed necessary to administer stimulants. An official was despatched to procure some. It was in vain that he tried the hotels in that particular suburb, and at last he headed for town to get an authority at the police-station to demand them. On his way he met the district constable, and begged him to use his influence with the hotelkeepers he had tried. The constable was rather chary, fearing that he had been ‘ had,’ but ultimately returned with the official as desired. The publicans at first would let neither of them in, not being quite certain but that the man in blue was quietly taking a survey of the situation in company with a member of the Licensing Com-

mittee. After an infinity of trouble they at last got the desired ‘medicine.’ ” It is, indeed, cause for much congratulation that decided action has been taken in Auckland in regard to Sunday trading, and we do not think that respectable hotelkeepers will be sorry that their houses are to be strictly closed on the Sabbath. Of course, they are those of immoral propensities who will deem the shutting up of their liquor dens on Sundays a great hardship; but their interests and inclinations are unworthy of notice, and there is no doubt that many drunkards’ wives will bless the good workers who who are determined to put a stop, if possible, to dissipation in the great northern city—especially on Sundays. A few unscrupulous publicans may carry on their “old tricks” clandestinely for a time ; but, if the same strictness and energy be observed in the future as we find reported there is every probability that the evil will be much decreased ere long. There are many respectable hotelkeepers who would have, no doubt, willingly closed their houses on a Sunday hitherto were it not that they had no wish to offend some of their customers ; therefore, to them the day of rest will be exceedingly welcome, and old topers must put up with the disappointment of not gratifying their craving for drink, with the result, it is to be hoped, of inducing them to lead sober lives. Certainly, there is a possibility of intemperate men getting in a supply of drink on Saturday nights and satisfying their cravings for liquor; nevertheless, a check will be put on their actions, and there is a possibility in the future of the Licensing Committees finding a remedy for that evil. It certainly is interfering with the liberty of the subject to prevent a man getting drink if he wishes for it; still, the well-being of the drunkard’s wife and family must be looked after, and he has no more right to break the law by getting drunk than in any other way. The good work of suppressing intemperance has been taken in hand by our Auckland friends with much firmness, and we congratulate them on the success attained in their midst in this respect; at the same time expressing a hope that the good example they have set will be followed by other communities in this Colony.