The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARYS 31, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 987, 31 January 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JANUARYS 31, 1882.

I The new Licensing Act is'at last beirjg brosgbt into operation. ;in ji|ie rapa by ])ro,el(Hming withiii its bqnn«: idarics six iiconsing districts, a' Returning Officer (Mr H. 8. Wardelil), [ and a-Clerk (Mr J.J. Freeth), .%Q ! Returning Officer has now announced the dates for four out of the six elections, and with reference to this' announcement we njighfc remark that tiej either by instructions from the Government or by his own discretion, fyas limited to ajj absolute minirautii i|io publicity given to tljese coming nomi-: nations, From a pound, shjljing, and pence aspect this economy is commep-; dahle, but' when a new Act is first- introduced to the public ill' a practical jfarm, should be regarded as Vsli.-fls -ecoßf.my, and either the Government or its is evidently more capable of carrying out tiie.letter of-the Act than catering into '.-Under the new 'Act, Resident Afagjfi- : iwtes are left out in : the cold as [Pealing Commissionei's7and,possibly it.was unwise for tlie Government to igivo them' .ftppqintraeakji as Return'iiig- Officers. - They can .scarcely : .be Expected! to desire to seethe new' Com.'. aijttees from which they.are.excluded" ,a'Success.;: However this may be, npxt week committees will-have to be nomi. iPAted for the J , etithe;ston ) ;Greytown,;

Carterton, and Mastertou distriots, and we shall be somewhat surprised if more.;, capable'commissioners take the places; of the old nominated .members of the Licensing Benches, Two classes, in, the community only take a •livelv-.in-teresfc in the coming elections—the publicans and the teetotallers. ■■ Tlie new. ..Committees will probably be marityjettrem one extreme party pr'the,otiier; and the publican the stronger one in most localities;; will probably prevail, Under the obi system tho occupants of the Licensing. Benches were usually gentlemen who had no hostility against publicans on the one hand, and no strong prejudice in favor of the teetotallers on the other. They endeavored to, hold tho balance fairly between the tW'inleMsts, and in this district*, at any rate they sought to make licensed, houses-comfortable-homes for the travelling public Under; tho old committees the character of the hotels in this district was undoubtedly raised ; will a similar improvement take place under the new ones? This W;ill altogether depend upon the men who are elected to till the new com'"'.Tho appointments are not of a character which will be sought after by any considerable number of settlers;."' Tho duties of' reconciling conflicting interests and of satisfying opposing. .'elements.are not likely to tempt many 'persons to place their services -at.tlie disposal of the electors.' The elective- feature of the' Act is an experiment,' the' success of which will entirely 'depend;upon the good sense and "moderation of the two classes which take the -greatest interest in it.' It is a very easy, thing to give new electoral privileges to the public, and to transfer responsibilities which have hitherto rested on the Government to. Tom, Dick, and/Harry, hut unless Tom, Dick, aud Harry are prepared to accept the duty which has devolved upon them, and to discharge it carefully and conscientiously, the success of the venture is more than doubtful. In the new measure confidence has been reposed in the good Bense and intelligence of the people. We sincerely trust to find that this confidence has not been misplaced. Householders have, whether they desire in or no, acquired a new privilege. Let thorn show at the coming nominations and elections that they are worthy, of it.