PUBLIC HOUSE REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 626, 25 May 1876, Page 3

PUBLIC HOUSE REFORM.

Sib,— l wo. very much amuted few days aso. A centleman called on me to sign a petition to the Liconsinc Court, requeuing them not to erant fonr publican's liconso* for the small district of To Awamulu and Kihikibi. In surprise, I said, « Wlitf, is it possible that yon. who last year canvassed the district for signatures to open an additional homo vouraelf, are now onpo»ing the prantinß of a license? What vision hare you seen, or what dream hare you dreamt. In the name of common senio what hna come over you ?" « Well," »nid he, " I hire joined the Good Templars. a»d I know the horrors ol the drink traffic. I kept .n hotel once myself, and therefore I am determined to uio every lawmi means in my power to prevent the licensing of four houses in this district." After ft long interview I found that ho really was sincere in his appeal to the ratepwew to use their P*™*** 1 " and stop the licen.in- of two of these houses I Mid, to reduce or tales the license from any licemea house, orherwiie than by the act or fault of the holder without compensation being ? ,ven, would he n very unju<r. despotic, and arbi rary proceeding. The «ces«rt wimbor of pubhj houiei, at prewnt. will bo mot hy the efflux of time, nnd thr. withholding of now I.o^B. T ho population isincrcasimrrapidlT. It » th r" r ° re Wdfnttliat the present 01 ;^ he licen.es to the population, w.l before . onR corrected. T«i may rM a.sum that c'e ' men on the Incoming Bench will do what i thov consider to be ri R ht and ioat and for the benefit of tho pnblic at forgo. The Good Tomplan could not, Vith nnv hopes, unaortakc to do mor ? than T-caUto the liquor t™toe, *nd any step, m the direction of prohibition wo»M ho an unp^t interf«ence with tho rights of private proprrfv, nnd would only hay* the effect of creatine an illicit trade in the sale of honor, » hioli would ho productive of greater cvih than tlio« it was intended to euro. I confess to somewh«t of astonishment at iho proportion of public houwi in this di-tri t to the population, or in other wordF, errry twenty families are especuHl to Veep a public honw. He r< plied to me, yo« • :- but ju»t do yon hear what, the parson, sit, that they at* miserief of vice and a onrso to the lMid. Tou are aware from tho opposition, whicli yon received from them lasfc ve«r, that the clerical body are. naturally »«iom to *w> tho eevcrcst rcstrnints imposed on places which are the re-ort of men who wont come to church, ami who will occasionally cot tipsy.^ I consider t t one of the most pitiahte Bights in the world to «cc an intollieent landlord, or oren what u worse a lady, romn-llMl to .tand at the back of thr.r bar and obliged to wait on and listen to the cabbie of poor half-witted, drunten creatures.— I am, iI-cAlitit. To Awamutu, May 22, 18/6.