The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1137, 30 December 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1873.

The first effect on the go.ldfields of the impending new Licensing Act has boon to hurry into existence at Reefton a Licensed Victuallers Association. Certain hotel keepers thinking that their trade might he in jeopardy, have, in a lit of virtuous enthusiasm, taken time by the forelock and petitioned the Resident Magistrate. Their prayer is as the prayer of a " fawning publican " should be, intensely selfish. The new Act in its operation may make a clearance in their ranks. They would thus, by thinning the ranks themselves, claim forbearance. Heuce

their petition, and their prayer for attention at the hands of the Licensing Hoard. They nay : l i First— \Ve have erected substantial uud costly buildings, with the requisite accommodation tor travellers and the general public. " Second—That, in accordance with the Licensing Onlinance, we have kept, and now keep, good, respectable, and orderly houses, for the legitimate purposes of the trade, for which our licenses were granted. " Third—That a number of licenses have been granted to single and unprotected young women in the town, a course which, if continued or repeated, is likely to prove at once detrimental to us, to the community, and to the interests of public morality. 1*; will need little consideration to lead to the conviction that young single women, although in some instances assisted by others as inexperienced and unprotected as themselves, must be unable to conduct, properly, houses where ardent spirits are served, and that in such cases their respectability and morals must be more or less in danser.

" Fourth—That in most instances these young women might secure respectable situations at good wages, would be under some protection from improper importunities, and would thus avoid the temptations to go astray, which result from too free and unguarded communication with the thoughtless and volatile of the other sex, who too often regard their charms as a legitimate prize to be easily gained by constant and liberal orders for whiskies. '* Fifth—That the number of licenses granted are far in excess of the actual requirements of the town, and need to be curtailed.

" Sixth—That, unless the licenses at the next quarterly meeting be withheld from the class of persons referred to, we will suffer serious and unmerited irjury, asthe conduct of our houses in accordance with the Ordinance entails great expense, which the female licensee escapes, although, for the above cited reasons, she does a large amount of trade, especially in spirits, which is by far the most profitable portion of the trade. " Seventh —In conclusion, we would beg to call your attention to the subject of granting ball permits. These materially affect the interests of the trade, especially when granted to persons who are not the holders of licenses. These persons on the happening of any existing event, and the probable gathering of a number of people, although contributing nothing to the revenue, obtain permission for ;i ball, and withdraw from the legitimate trader the chance of profit which his expenditure should justify him in anticipating.

" Trusting that these our representations will meet with that fair and impartial consideration which their justice deserves. &c," Mark the pith and true intent of this characteristic document. They admit that tho r.urnber of licenses granted is " far in excess" of the actual requirements of the town, hut as a remedy they do not offer themselves to betake to more legitimate employment, nor would they cast overboard even one Jonah from among themselves, but they pounce upon certain unmarried female barkeepers, and "in the interest of public morality" object that licenses should be longer granted them, because their charms obtain " constant and liberal orders for whiskies." But of these naughty maidens three, for 'tis but a trio against whom the shafts of the virtuous he-pub-licans are hurled, the presiding Magistrate averred that he could not overlook the fact that some such might have held licenses for a lengthened period without having laid themselves open to reproach or complaint, and that he should grant their licenses, assuming it as probable that by the month of April next the young ladies would probably see the advisability tind propriety of removing theialiened disabilities by getting married. And so the first shot of the Reef ton Licensed Victuallers has fallen short, and they stand convicted of being verv selfish individuals. That need exists for Licensed Victuallers Associations has been often argued, but not for such very petty elforts as these. The new Licensing Courts will decide the number of houses to be licensed within any district, without interference or attempted dictation from any hosts to whom " liberal orders for whiskies" have become all worth living for.