GAMBRIDGE WEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3104, 7 June 1892, Page 2

GAMBRIDGE WEST.

Mutual Improvement Sociktv.—The last meeting of the Pukekura Mutual Improvement Society was devoted to the discussing of Parliamentary subjects, notice of which had heen given at the previous meeting. Owing to the number of items, the discussion on each subject was limited to half an hour; consequently, those taking part had to be brief in their remarks. The first motion was moved by Mr 11. R. Hyatt, and was as follows That, in the interests of the general community, it is desirable that all public-houses should be taken over and managed by the State." The speaker said he thought it would be generally admitted that public-houses are not properly managed, and that prohibition orders are Dractically useles3 in the colony. He pointed'out that prohibition is impracticable whon it has not the sympathy of the people, and that reducing the number of licensed houses increases tl>3 monopoly, and *!oes not decrease drunkenness. The State was already in partnership with the publicans, and he thought it would be better if it took over the whole business. Many said it would be a difficult undertaking, but ho did not agree with them. He suggested the following mode of procedure : All public-houses to be taken over at a valuation, on a certain date ; compensation to be granted when houses are closed instead of being taken over; in cases where publicans were made managers, compensation would be unnecessiry ; the number of public-houses to bo limited to, say, ono for every thousand inhabitants : inspectors to be appointed to make surprise visits, and report upon the manner in which the houses were conducted, test the liquors, &c. ; in cases of unfavourable reports, managers to be suspended fir dismissed. Mr Hyatt further pointed out that the managers having fixed salaries, tluiy would not be interested iu the quantity or quality of liquor sold ; consequently, liquor would not be adulterated, as at present, and drunkards would not be supplied, for managers would not be troubled with drunken individuals if they did not benefit by 3upnlyiug them. The whole business could be managed by a Central Department, similar to the"Post-Office.— Alter considerable discussion this motion was put and carried. Mr T. A. Hicks then moved : That County Councils should be abolished and the work now performed by them be done by Road Boards. We understand this motion to embrace the amalgamation of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and licensing and school committees.—This motion was also carried. —Mr Geo. Comer then moved : That, in breach of promise cases, damages ahould be allowed equally to either mala or female. He made a most amusing speech which caused great merriment, but the motion was lost, the members being of opinion that the awarding of damages in such cases should be abolished altogether. Mr C Miller then made hn debut, by moving : That the duty on tobacco be reduced. He made a capital little speech, and referred to the heavy duty levied on tobacco, while tea and several other luxuries, that in his opinion did quite us much harm to the nervous system, were taxed to a much lighter extent. —The motion met with considerable sympathy, many being of the opirihn that if tobacco was cheaper it would not be used so much : hut on the contrary a goodly number thought the high price of it acted as a deterrent to its being used bv young boys. The motion was rejected.— The next meeting will be devoted to discussing the Single Tax. In ■ur last report appeared a comment upon a recitation given by Mr W. Luck. The name should have been Tuck. The printer's imps evidently hare a down on this young man, for when he lately passed the Civil Service examination the whole of the napers gave his name 1 as Suck. Unfortunately his cognomen is ! one that is easdy changed, for about 22 "f the 26 letters of our alphabet will fit fairly well, if substituted for the first letter of his name, hence the imps have an easy task I If we had females on our staff, it would | probably havo been Duck. | Gratefol Scholars. —The sch .lars attending the Cambridge West miblic selio,,] have presented Miss .Yta;vl Nix w with a handsome gold brunch, as a souvenir of the esteem in which they have always held her during the five years she had assisted in their education. Mi«s Nixon ha lately been mored by the Board of Education, her plana being filled by Mrs Bruce.