The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5026, 20 February 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1885.

That farcical measure, the Licensing Act, baa had one of its weaknesses very forcibly shown by the Thames District, and wherever possible it is to be hoped that other parts of the colony will do likewise. There are, according to law, seven licensing committees elected in-the Thames Borough and County, and each of those consists of fire members. By a judicious arrangement it has come about that the same five men have been elected for all the committees, thus not only pointing out that no. great anxiety exists on the part of the people to cause contests for the positions, nor are they eager to take much interest in the matter ; but by this movement the time lost by thirty-fiye men is now only expended by fire. Ever since the introduction of the Act various portions of it hare from time to time caused dissensions amongst the people which were not at all desirable or necessary, and one part more particularly aroused feelings,of unamiableness which would not hare otherwise existed ; that was this self same portion of it, the election of committees. One of the many changes that is called for is the sub" etitution of some other method of locally dealing with licensing matters, for the committee system. The once followed mode of allowing Resident Magistrates and Justices of the Peace to Bit as Licencing Benches has much to recommend, it, and if not the most satisfactory plan of dealing with" such matters, is at , least a-better one than the last devised. i One of the many matters requiring amendment, and which wili in all proba--1 billity be attended .to during next session, | is this Act, and we have little doubt that the committee system will be very considerably altered, if not altogether abolished. In the meantime other districts throughout the colony should, as far as is practicable, follow the example of the Thames, and thus .endeavor to make tho most of a very useless provision.