DEPUTATION ON LICENSING MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 29 May 1900, Page 2

DEPUTATION ON LICENSING MATTERS.

MR. STANFORD'S VIEWS. A deputation consisting of the Revs, S. J. Serpell, J. Nixon, and Drew, Messrs. S. B. White, Arnbury, Marfell, Carter, Brash, F. Okey, L. Bullot, H. Goodacre, Grayson, and Mrs. W. Collig waited on Mr. Stanford (the licensing authority) on Monday morning relative to several evils in connection with the drink traffic. Mr, Serpell, who acted as spokesman, said they were present more as citizens than ae representatives of any particular temperance organisation. They recognised the unique position Mr. Stanford was placed in owing to the non- election of a Committee, which practically left the administration of the licensing Act, so far as this electorate was concerned, in his hands during the next three years, and he (the speaker) took the opportunity of expressing satisfaction at the way the laws had been administered during the last few months. It was not necessary to dilate on the evils arising from the traffic, as in his position as magistrate Mr. Stanford must have had many of those evils revealed to him, but they desired to bring under bis notice several matters affecting the well-being of the community. Toe i first was in regard to the hour of closing licensed premises. It was their desire to see the hotels closed at 10 o'clock, as they claimed that special circumstances did not exist which required the places being open till ll o'clock. The trains seldom arrived in New Plymouth later than 9.30, and there were very few late steamers. Auckland, Wanganui, and other places had the 10 o'clock licenses, .and the people in those places had always • declared in favour of that hour, as it was recognised that late hours had a direct tendency to increase drunkenness. Then, again, there was the question of supplying youths with drink. No particular case was in view, but it was a fact that there was a good deal of drinking going on in the town among boys just over the ages of 17 and 18 years. Although it was not an offence to supply a young man over a certain age, he thought it was criminal that this should be the case. There was also the matter of Sunday trading. The deputation was aware that every effort would be made by His Worship to minimise that evil, and in that respect he would have their entire moral support. It was also hoped that steps would be taken to prevent the natives being so indiscriminately supplied with drink. As citizens they would feel deeply grateful if Mr. Stanford could see bis way to bring the trade within the four corners of the Act.

Mr. Stanford, in reply, said that the responsibility of the whole administration of the Act rested with him, and that being the case he felt that the wisdom of past Committees should not be suddenly altered by him. Therefore, on the question of changing the licenses from 11 to 10 o'clock, he was predisposed in favour of continuing the present state of things. He had some experience in other districts. and it had always seemed to him that in cases where licensed houses were closed at 10 o'clock it tended to provoke breaches of the law. Although be did not see eye to eye with the prohibition party as to its methods of checking tiie evils of drunkenness, he believed that, the strict administration of the Act was the true remedy, and one which ought to be adopted in the future. To close licensed houses in the borough a 10 o'clock would, in his o, i ion, ' e going further than public sentiment, pub'ic feeling, and public morals at the present time would go. If the hotels were closed at 10 o'clock and at half-past the publican's bar was fo«nd iu full swing, the licensee would

be punished for a breach of the law,< and he put it to the deputation, would! such punishment carry with it the wholesome public opinion of this place ? After carefully considering the subject, and from experience in other places, it seemed to him that 10 o'clock licenses were not always satisfactory. They did not lessen the quantity of drink taken, while the frequent breaches of the law sere regarded, in a manner, by the public with equanimity—that the publican had, in fact, more public sympathy than should be given him. In regard to licenses in this district he saw no necessity for the extension of licenses outside the borough. At the meeting on the Ist of June, it! was his intention to state that the licenses in the borough would j be continued this year till 11 o'clock,! and in any cases where licensees kept a disorderly house, where drunkards were harboured, where Sunday trading was carried on, and where prohibited persons procured drink, even if a conviction was not obtained, sueh houses will only get 10 o'clock licenses next year.. The effect of this was very satisfactory when he tried it before—it made hotelkeepers more careful. There were some reasons in New Plymouth why the licenses should be 11 o'clock which did not exist in the country. The trains did not usually get into the town station till half-past: 9, and it invariably happened that travellers did not reach the hotels till a quarter to 10 o'clock. That applied to three hotels, and to grant 11 o'clock licenses to three places would be improper unless there was good reason such as he had mentioned. As to supplying youths with drink, that was a matter for legislation. lie was horrified when he knew that youths were in the habit of getting drunk. But with reference to Sunday trading, he had already spoken strongly about the matter, "With reference to natives being supplied, he was aware, from, his own knowledge and observation, that men—and unfortunately women, too — were being habitually supplied, and he would most certainly do his utmost to stop it.

In reply to a quastiou by Mr. SerpeU as to whether Mr. Stanford based his objection to granting the 10 o'clock license on the ground that he was in doubt as to the public supporting it, His Worship replied that the only ttsb of public opinion on the question was the election of a committee. Mr, (Serpell then thanked the Magistrate, and the deputation withdrbw.