Thames Borough Council.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3571, 7 June 1880, Page 2

Thames Borough Council.

A special meeting of the above body was held this morning in the Borough Chambers. His Worship presided,: and there were present —Crs Osborne, Mennie, HcGowan, Graham, Marshall, Wilson, and Bawden. - ,

The object of the meeting was to consider, the serious redaction in the revenue through the action of the Licensing Bench. .-: ..-.- . ; :■•.;'-■•' ••■ ■' ,--\ ;' '; "; Cr Graham said that he and some gentlemen were talking about the reductions that had been caused by the Licensing Bench closing some of the houses,' and being a member of the Council he thought it was his duty to protest against any encroachment: on thV. revenue of the Borough, and to guard against any redaction. As a matter of convenience to himself the meeting was called for this morning. At the .present time the funds of the: Borough are in such a state, that any reductions do matter bow small are of importance. He did not wish to interfere with the action of the Licensing Bench, but at the same time he should protest against any reduction in the revenue. He wished to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that twothirds of the place was either held under Crown grants or was in native tenure, and that property was therefore not ratable. In brder to carry on, they would have to have assistance from the Government. He would move the following resolution •' —"That the Government be informed that in consequence of the action of the Licensing Bench the revenue of the Borough is reduced by £240 per annum, and that under the present pecuniary position of the Borough such reduction is of great moment. That the Government be asked to give a grant in aid of gold* fields roads,-within this Borough, where about one-third of the land is either leased tb the Crown or under native tenure— therefore is not rateable, and under the circumstances cannot support its own roads within the Borough."

Cr Osborne seconded the resolution. He thought that the action of the Licensing Bench should be discussed. The Borough Council had experienced difficulty in carrying on up to the present, but with a reduction in supplies of £240, that difficulty would be largely increased. He understood that the Government were contemplating taking all the money accruing from licenses from them, and were going to include it in Colonial revenues, so that in a short time the Borough would have no revenue at all. Subsidies had been stopped, and now the Licensing Bench had cut off £240 per annum from their receipts. He thought that representations should be made to the Government to obtain a special vote to enable them to carry on. * Cr Bawden, in supporting the resolution, said that it was not intended as a critique of the action of the Licensing Bencb, but was intended to draw the attention of Government to the fact that the Borough cannot stand any reduction in their revenue at present.

'The Mayor then read the following telegram :—" Ministers do not appear to be disposed to again open up the Thames claim for money. Sir George Grey means to bring the matter before the House.— W.J". 3pbioht." CV Mennie considered it would be a bad thing to conple the two together. The Government, as was seen by the telegram, was not inclined to hear the claims of the Thames, and if they appealed to them, the chances were that they would not be heard. Cr McGowan said he was sorry that he was compelled to oppose the resolution, but he thought it was not right of the Council to take any action in the matter. If an outside meeting took the matter up he would give all his assistance, but he thought the Council would do themselves harm if they prosecuted their resolution. The Licensing Bench in their wisdom thought fit to close several of the houses, and they were no doubt to be considered as having the welfare of the place at heart. If therefore the Council complained to Government, Government would say "-Well, here are the Bench, composed of. the.local men of the Thames, and who - . know what is needed for the district, who have decided on closing these houses. They know how it will affect the Borough and have done it for the good of the Borough.'' He thought it would be a very foolish action on the part of the Council to interfere in any way with the decisions of the Licensing Commission. The Borough when obtaining the revenue knew that the public house licenses were subject to serious fluctuation. The Council have no right to interfere in the matter—as individuals they had a right but, as representing the Council of the Borough they had no business to make the Council a lever between the Licensing { Commission and the Government. He j hoped the wisdom of the Councillors would prevent their carrying such a foolish measure. The question was one which could very well be taken up by the Licensed Victuallers' Association.

1 Cv Marshall said he agreed with the last speaker. He thought that an application to Government at the present time would do more harm than good. He proposed to telegraph to our representatives instructions to put the claims of the Borough before Parliament. Or Graham 'said he did not at all object to that course, and he would make his resolution into two. He said it was the duty of the Council to draw the attention of Government to the reductions consequent'on, this action of-the Licensing Bench. If that body shut up the whole of the houses, would it be the duty of the Council to quietly submit to the

decrease in the revenue P He considered it very necessary that representations should be made to the Government showing the manner in which the receipts were curtailed.

Cr Osborne said that Cr McGowan had spoken of the Borough as taking a side wind out of the Licensing Commission. Cr McGowan: I never said anything of the kind.

The first resolution was then put, and carried by a majority of one vote. Cr McGowan entered his written protest.

Some discussion then took place as to the propriety of petitioning Government on the matter of subsidies, etc. Cr McGowan moved—" That this Council petition the Government re the charitable Aids deductions, and the pro* mise of the foreshore, and the grant of £500 by Mr Sheehan." Cr Graham seconded and the resolution was carried. This was all the business. -;