BILLIARD SALOONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 167, 14 January 1914, Page 4

BILLIARD SALOONS.

Tire attitude ot the local Uorough C.omibil in respect to extending tlie 'hours o£ billiard sa.ioons from 10 to 11 p.m. is difficult to understand. As far as ivc know, (here was no demand, even from that pari of (lie public who patronise Hie saloons,, for the extension that lias, almost without. wanting, 'been sprung upon the community. Tilings have gone on very well during' the past ten years when tin; saloons -have lieeu elosed at the .same hour as the hotels, and the Council would have been better advised to leave well alone. As it is. their action in extending the hours «!' the saloons will cause—indeed, is already causing—h great deal of dig-i-utUfavtion amongst a considerable section whose wishes and feeliups are entitled to consideration and respect, and ma;, bring about their ears a per feet hornets' nest. .Mori' than that, Uie Council's action will do billiivd •saloons more harm than good, for it will create a strong feeling' of hostility that cannot, help but prove detrimental to tihe interests of these establishments,- ' 0 "'e know, no exceptions can be taken to the manner in which the saloons are heing conducted. lint the position may be considerably altered if they are allowed to keep open" after hotel hours. It is a retrogressive step, and cannot on any ground be justified. It must be remembered that the tiuist reposed by the citizens tin the Council is one of grave import, for the Mayor and Councillors- are the 'guardians " of many matters that, alfect the well-being of tho community. To rightly perforin the duties attaching to this trust, it is obviously imperative that any question alleeling the community should be decided in the .interests of the whole and not, of a section of tlie pop*.

luce. By no stretch of imagination can it bii contended that the decision of the Council in ('his billiard room question is based on the basic principle alluded to above. Probably by this time some of those wb.o voted for the extension may have come to view tlhc matter in the right light. It ia to be hoped they have, and tSiat they will have the courage of their new convictions, whieih, when acted on. will most surely redound to their credit.