IMPROVEMENTS RETARDED.

Not long since an application was made by them to a Metropolitan Bench to allow an addition to licensed property, the space to be used as a dining-room in which excisable liquors should be supplied with meals only. It was pointed out that the complaint was made against owners that there was not proper provision or the supply of food. Notwithstanding that the application was made by a firm of high repute, it was refused, and no reason was given for the refusal. Without questioning the decision, the owners afterwards suggested that it might be advantageous if they had an informal meeting with the justices and a discussion as to the lines upon which alterations could proceed, and the considerations which guided the Bench. The owners were anxious to obtain information which would enable them to carry out improvement schemes without incurring the risk of having refusals from the magistrates. A reply was received stating that the justices were not prepared to accept the suggestion. In another case, when an application was made to a Bench to allow space for a dining-room on licensed promises, the decision was that the request should be acceded to, but only on condition that no intoxicating liquors were supplied in the room.

There are justices who recognise the value of improving the public house, but the unfortunate attitude frequently adopted by temperance advocates renders progress in this direction most difficult. Prohibitionists provide the driving force of temperance organisations to-day. They are pressing for local veto in order to obtain prohibition, because they are aware that no agency of the State or private firm could embark upon an improvement scheme in any district when the amount of capital, perhaps thousands of pounds, expended in carrying it out might at any moment be lost if local veto were in operation.

Temperance has really been retarded and the public have suffered owing to the intolerant spirit displayed by so-called temperance reformers, and experience shows that no improvement can be expected unless, in the interests of consumers as well as of the Trade, licensing administration is influenced by a more enlightened policy than has prevailed in the past.