THE QUESTION OF CLUBS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8949, 15 October 1907, Page 2

THE QUESTION OF CLUBS.

Per Press Association, Wellington, Oetobsr W. A deputation from tho Kow Zealand Alliance waitsd on the Colonial Secretary (Hon. Dr Findlay) to-day with reference to the granting of club charters. The Rev. J. Dawson said they understood the Cosmopolitan Club at Gisborno was applying for a charter. They quite understood tho Government had power to grant charters v.-hich permitted tho disposal of liquor, but they thought that (he 1 licensing lav.' was very emphatic that thoro should bo no increased facilities in the way of licenses except under certain special conditions. Charters in clubs had a very serious effect indeed. Tho Wellington Working Men's Club was ostensibly a literary club, but the takings at the bar during the first six months of this year amounted to .£5202 and for refreshment tickets (whateverthat meant) to ,£l*7'. The library deposits amounted to .-£B. Since last election club charters had been granted at Feuding, Hustings and Maaterton, although tho peoplo at the local option poll had voted strongly in favour of no-license, while at Gisborno also the same slate of things prevailed. Tho Cosmopolitan Club at Gisborno had about 100 members. They expected thai the granting of a charter would increase the membership to 300, but thoy wort also ini'wmod that . there was only a majority of two members of the Club in favour of applying for a charter. A mcml-or for the Wellington Working Men's Club informed him that the lookers wove mtroduced, and their Sunday drinking cost them -2s fid instead of say is previously. The foekGr'w as supplied and they were expected to' pay. It appeared that the whole tendency of these clubs was in the direction of drinking, find there wore already sufficient facilities tot all. Those who wanted the facilities of club life should not have liquor thrust upon them. Tho Kev. F. W. Isitt said that when he was in Gisborne ho found a feeling that the Government was showing favouritism to the liquor sellers. The Police Inspector had laid informations against certain publicans for soiling whisky in bottles which were wrongly branded, and at tho same time informations were laid against certain tradespeople for not having had their weights and measures stamped. A telegram came instructing the police t-C Y,'lthc!-~"' the HLGrmauun against tho publicans, but not against the tradespeople, and that action wag greatly resented, ; • :--.:- - Dr Findlay : lam sure that is news to the Cabinet. Tho Colonial Secretary, in replying, asked tho deputation to bear in mind that the present administration should be mp.ue rc-sponsiblo for its own conduct, and its own conduct only, and that it did not commence a very long time ago. With regard to the clubs referred to !>y Mr Dawson, the Government was met with this difficulty. In regard to the Master-ton Club there was a definite promise made to tho members that it they built their club house a charter would bo granted. That promise had been made by a responsible Minister. Tho same applied to I'eiiding and Hastings and it also apphed to the Cosmopolitan Club at Gisborno, whose application for a charter came in eighteen months ago. The Gisborno people were led to believo that if they erected a " building costing £3OOO a charter would follow in good time. Again the Government was confronted with the question whether as a matter of common justice, that a promise should not bo made" good. Ho asked the deputation to remember that in the present administral ion they had some of the best friends of the cause they advocated, and who were constantly vigilant to see that tho will of the peoplo was not defeated. The matter c<ime before the Cabinot on several occasions and it perplexed them very seriously. If it had come before them as a matter of first impression there would have been no quesj tion but that'tho charters would be refused —every one of them. (Hoar, hear). The Cabinet had passed a resolution that no charter should bo granted in future, and by virtue of that resolution ho two days ago promptly refused an application for a charter for a special artistic club in Wellington. Applications from other parts of the Dominion had also boon declined. The Cabinet's perplexity, however, in vegiud to the specii.l eases referred to lay in the fact that promises had been made, and while he did not wish to escape the responsibility or cast any reflection upon ministers or a ministry which, took a different view, it was duo to the present Government to impress upon the deputation tli.it their bands were tied. The rule that no further charters would bo granted would be adhered to so long as tho present Government remained in' office. A 3 to the remarks of Mr Isitt, the question of withdrawing information in certain cases was entirely new to him, and ho was certain to tho Cabinet. It would be investigated, and if it'was found to bo true they would havo something to say to the officers responsible. As to club charters generally, he thought it was an anomaly that where local option was so widespread as it was in New Zealand tha question should not also be voted on as to whether licenses should be granted to clubs. Ho spoke entirely for himself in this matter. Ha had not discussed it with any members of the Ministry. As to tho boker system, he thought it was even worse than, the .system of ordinary licenses, because it was not subject to control and lent itself to what was described by Mr Dawson. When the proper time came ho agreed j that something should be done to check it I

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