BOYCOTTING IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1394, 9 June 1881, Page 3

BOYCOTTING IN WAIKATO.

- TO THE EDITOB. Sib, — The amount of Bympathy on the one hand and disgust on the other whioh this Irish institution has caused wherever heard of, is more .than, words can express. But, ! sir, Cambridge 'is drying 'to out-Irish in this matter. The case is this : a year ago a building was erected here for an hotel ; all that the law required was done to obtain a license, when, lo ! an outcry and agitation was got up by two leading hotelkeepers and a few rabid teetotallers, headed by that worthy specimen of humanity who wrote the' celebrated letter to Mr Kirkwood, which everybody heard of, re the upstairs bar at the National; The result of that application for a license is a matter of history, and was commented upon at the time by the Waikato Times and others. But what i has this to do with "Boycotting?" you will say. Well, much every way. One of the hotelkeepera before referred to has said that he will spend £500 before a license shall be granted to the house on this side of the river ; and, in order to ahow how matters stand, they (the puba and teetotallers) have got up a petition to the powers that be, asking that Pukekura be made a licensing district and that Messrs Fisher and Eeynolds be appointed Commissioners. Now, why is this ? Simply because they are afraid that tho Rangiaohia Licensing Board are ' not likely to be ' the willing tools of the " Boycotters," therefore they will secure those who will. I do not say those nominated will be — but after the animus and opposition they have manifested to William Madigan in his former applications for a license — au opposition amounting to persecution, it is a fair inference to say that they will officially do as in the past, complete the "Boycotting. " What occasion there can be for a licensing board in the district, where there is nothing to license except on the hypothesis I have stated is beyond my comprehension, and is a direct insult to the other board. I know that those composing that Board are gentlemen, and would never compromise themselves by any local squabble ; therefore let them do what they may, there would be more satisfaction to all concerned than there possibly can be, when two notorious partizans have to adjudicate. The cry of some of the opposition is that " Cambridge West don t need an hotel." Well, if it don't, no district ever did. If a population of forty families in the township, with as many more beyond it, and nearly all the Upper Waikato traffic to Cambridge through it don't show a necessity for hotel accommodation, wherever did such a need exist ? Again, the hotelkeepers of Cambridge spent nearly £2000 in enlarging their accommodation, and with all this expenditure numbers of persons during the Land Court had to go to Hamilton because they could not get accommodated in Cambridge East. Since the hotel building has been erected a large and commodious store has been built, and application has been made for a Post-office, and a new church will follow. Since Mr Madigan'a last refusal a number of residents favourable to the house, formed thetnselves into a Working Man's Club, which now numbers over a hundred members, besides honorary members, among whom are four Justices of the Peace. The rooms have been all occupied with boarders and members since the Club was formed, and I am aure that the business done would make many hotel keepers jealous, but in spite of that the position he occupies is most anomalous and disagreeable, and he would far rather pay his license and be subject to police surviellaiice than be subjected to the silly and untruthful reports which have been and are circulated about his house and himself. If the Licensing Board on Thursday shall see fit after so many delays to give him a license they would be doing an act of justice to him and the district. If they only knew the tricks, I may say the villanous tricks — resorted to, to trap him, as I know them, there is not a member of that Board, but would heartily grant a license, and so put an end to this unseemly strife.— l am, &c, A Cambridge West Settles. Cambridge West, 6th June, 1881.