Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4521, 12 September 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1893.

, Hansard contains a speech by'Mr Hogg, on the new Licensing Bill, The B|>fiech i 8 decidedly "an i able one, and we would have been glad to have re-published it in full but for itß excesatve length; as it is we aummarise lor the benefit of our readers the arguments winch it advances, Mr Hogg contends that reform in licensing administration is 1 demanded by the country, and supplied by the Government Bill, and urges that the measure removes for a time from the arena of politics a disturbing and very dangerous element, This latter conclusion is, however, we consider, a little doubtful ■ if the prohibition party becomes Strengthened by the female franchise, We agree, however, with the member for (bin district that the Bill is a partial solution of a feoutty question, and a step forward. Mr Hogg designates the present Licensing Committees as miserable mockeries, and he is able to speak on this point from personal experience. Qe also makes out that they make tools of the publicans, but wo are not altogether certain * that the boot has not in some cases been on the other leg, fie then declares that 11 no trade in New Zealand is so humiliating, so oppressed and so degraded as that of the Licensed Victuallers," and there is some weight in this contention, if aB be alleges, the conditions of the traffic are such that respectable men wont enter into it or remain in it, Mr Hogg next paintß a picture of the troubles of a locality whiob has no publichouse and gives stunted Mauriceville as a horrid example of what a place may become without facilities for obtaining liquor, On this point we do not agree with the member for Musterton and think the Scandinavian settlers in that district have been extremely fortunate in having beon so many years without a licensed house in their neighbourhood. Mr Hogg's conclusions on the general question are that people are not yet ripe for prohibition, but wish to control the traffic. He favours giving the people this power without the three-fifths majority and believes that the result of the measure will be fewer houses aud a better class, because the elements of competition wjII be eliminated and the position of the ' survifors will be more assured, We can recollect the time when Mr Hogg was wont to argue that open competition and an increase in the number of licensed bouses was the better method of improving the trade, but we do not regret to see that he has modified bis view of the point. Now he contends for a.few decent houses and an elevated trade. There is tnuoh to approve of in these sentiments and we do not believe that what is known as the moderato party have hud on this question their views more clearly and ably stated than in : the speaoh to which we have made reference.- On occasions Mr Hogg displays marked ability in his speeches and the one which he made on the Government licensing measure is a decided credit to him.