The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-20

what the other should or should not do IN
this regard. The constitution gave rights
to all, and provided for everyone.
MR.. W. W. HALL,
OF the firm of z. o. Hall & Son, said that
| as he had nothing to do with the planta-
| tons, he could not speak so fully as to how
the proposed licenses would affect them,
but he regretted that the Government
had taken the step it had in regard TO out
side licenses. The Hawaiian people were
not capable of that self-res traint which
would keep them from indulging in drink
if they could get it freely. They knew this
themselves; hence, in every Legislat ure the
best native members had always voted
against the law now in force. Every addi-
tional facility given to the native race for
obtaining liquor increased their disposition
to indulge in it, Mr.. Hall was of the
opinion that the sale of licenses would in
crease the sale of liquor.
MR.. H. =. wIDEMAYN
Was invited to express an opinion regarding
the policy of issuing licenses in outside dis
tricts; and also as to whether the people
themselves should not exercise the veto
freedom from political bias lends weight to
his opinion. He said:
II think most decidedly that it is better
TO grant licenses than to Sell without au-
thority. I do not think that grant ting Ii
censes would lessen the amount drank, but
there would be more reasonable drinking.
1t would be under control, which it is not
= oI, IrSp oil
destinely, and it is better to license the sale
of liquor and regulate the trade. 1 have
been told that at least fifty cases of liquor
go to KOhala every week and it is certainly
consumed in that district, but there is no
license. In every other district throughout
the islands liquor in at least the same pro-
portion is consumed without license. The
issuance of licenses would not increase con-
sumption; it would regulate the liquor
traffic"
"What is your opinion of local optionP
Ought not the people in every district to
decide whether they want liquor store or
not?''
81 don't believe in that at all. don't
believe in any one telling me what shall
drink"
rs there any necessity for issuing the
licenses authorized by the Privy Councils"
1t is simply question of revenue.
think, however, that five out of the eight
licenses it is proposed to grant will not be
able to exist under the liquor law. The
81 900 license to sell by the glass
only, and $1,000 bond, will kill them.
The point of the license question is this
Those opposed to licenses object to letting
the natives get drink while the natives ask
why it is that white man and a stranger in
the country may have permission to do
something which native of the land is for
hidden to do? Their position is strong
one 1t cannot be assailed. At the same
time, l confess that 1 think the natives
are better without drink, and if it could be
done without injustice, and without inter
fering with their natural rights, would be
glad to see it out Of their power to obtain
spirits. But that cannot be done. They
have been worked up to the point in some
way, and now demand the same degree of
freedom accorded to white men,
s'Total prohibition would meet that OBJ
jection.''
Yes; but am teetotally opposed to
that"
The conversation then branched out to
the advantage to be gained by encouraging
the consumption of light wines and beer.
The latter might be made in the
kingdom. Mr.. Widemann had sent
home water from this place for
analysis, and found that it was admirably
adapted for the manufacture of beer. But
there is no license for the brewing of beer,
wherefore this industry has not been estab-
Iished.
COLONEL G. W. MACFARLANE
Said that in the very interesting discussion
of the quest ton of granting these licenses,
which took place in the Privy Council, he
had advocated local option. In this he had
agreed with the Chief Justice, but he declined
to vote on the main question On account of
his connection with the wine and spirit
business. He stated that he had pointed
out, in the meeting referred to, the illegality
of the proposition made by Mr.. s. G. Wilder,
to put up the licenses at auction, as the law
on the subject limited the price to be paid
for any such license TO $1,000. He was of
opinion that if the question of local option
were left to the voters in each district, they
would not oppose the licenses as a rule,
unless unfair means were used, such as
threats by employers to discharge employees
if they did not vote right.
Employers on plantations would not, he
also thought, favor the license system,
not so much on account of it's dement's as
from the fact that they were largely prohibit
tionists, or the descendants of those who
had always been opposed to the use of
spirits in any form. Furthermore, Colonel
Macfarlane said he did not think that
the license system would increase the
sale of liquor, because sales now made
by and through Cinnamon were enor-
nous, and in his opinion, greater than
could be made through the licensed saloons.
He thought that the licensees could control
the illicit traffic. AS for the profits of the
business, he thought these would not be
great as people imagined. The distance
apart that people lived would prevent those
who used liquor from indulging much in a
social way.
When asked what he thought of the local
Hcensee evading the law in regard to selling
by the glass only, the Colonel expressed the
opinion that as any transgression of the law