THE LAPSED LICENSE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 139, 6 July 1901, Page 2

THE LAPSED LICENSE

TO THE EDITOR.' Sir, —Your remarks in your issue <>f Tuesday,, on the grant ns of a lioansa to the Hotel Commonwealth, showed tlio whole case in its true aspect. Any ordinary mind, unbiased by our lives of self interest or prejudice, can easily eee that wrong has been dene, both to the residents of Bell Block and the citizens of New Plymouth. It is a sound psinciple that tha license is for the benefit of tho public, not of the holder. Tbe people in this district by petition, s'n'ed thflir de.-ire for it to remain, and a bona fide offer was made to carry out the requirements of tha Act to prevent it from lapsing.. Ia spite of all this, with the strong protest by your citizens to strengthen our request, we are deprivej of our rights to enable a money making sprcu'ation to succeed. If anything will arouse the people to a eenee of their danger from this gigantic monopoly, this glaring cise ought to do to. The only caee in the prrsent stat.e of public sentimmit for the evil attending the present licensing item is thit of public control, without profit to tie stllor. T' e licensed victuallers, and total prohibitionists ara to be thankei for this uhf'a'isfac'ory state of matters, which no tinki ring by Parliament-will remedy, but a complete change from private vested interest to a popular control with proper safeguard agaiqst excess acd adulteration. —I, am, etc., Kobkbt Glego, - B»ll Block.