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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4412, 6 May 1893, Page 2

The Hev. Mr Dukes in a letter published in another column appeals to the Licensing Committee to close the Star Hotel and cites evidence from cases publicly brought before the R. M, Court to show that in the past this establishment has beon misconducted. The Kev. gentleman h:is a perfect right to make a statement of this kia J in the interests of public morality, and there cannot be much doubt that the Licensing Committee are distinctly responsible for the manner in which all houses within their, jurisdiction have been conducted. Almost every man in this town knows precisely what the reputation of each house has been, and tho members of the Licensing Committee must have been thoroughly well informed on this point, They have renewed licenses from time to time with a full knowledge of the character and conduct of the applicants, We do not, speaking frankly, consider the Licensing Committee has done its duty in the past, but we are not justified m declaring that at tho coming meeting it will not act rightly. We presume the renewal ofthe particular license referred to, will come before it, and-that the application will be considered judicially. It is not for us or for the Rev Mr Dukes to anticipate what the decision will be, because we are not in possession of all the facts bearing on the application. In the firßt place a new landlord is to the lore, and we are not in a position to say whether he is likely to keep a good, bad, or indifferent house, Nor do we consider his application, if it be made, should be prejudiced by the past reputation ofthe establishment, Tho renewal might be objected to on the ground that there are too many licensed houses in the borough; but this is a point on which opinions diffor, Tho Bev. John Dukes or any other social reformer in the community is quite justified in bringing under the notice of the Licensing Committee any facts bearing upon the public convenience and welfare in the conduct of any or all licensed how. It will be the duty of the Licensing Committee to consider them impartially and fairly, If Licensing Committees did their duty faithfully and fearlessly, the cjuso of prohibition would suffer, It is the ill-conducted houses which create sympathy with the prohibition movement and for these, Licensing Committees must be held to be responsible.