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I see the section runs :- "No person, unless licensed to retail intoxicating liquors or Chinese spirits under this Ordinance, shall keep an eating house, coffee house, refreshment bar or saloon, restaurant, or other place where meals or refresh- "ments are supplied to persons not resident on the premises, without a licence from "the Colonial Secretary."--Of course, they can have an adjunct licence if they want to retail liquor.
The question of the sale and importation and so on of liquors having come up, have you any remarks that you wish to make on the subject ?-Well, as far as experience has shown this liquor that is sold here, when submitted to analysis, does not appear to contain deleterious substances. Such has been the result of the analyses that have been made, and the question is to find out whether it does possess these extremely intoxicat- ing qualities or not. I am inclined to think that the extreme intoxication is due to the extreme cheapness of the liquor.
To the quantity rather than to the quality ?—Yes. It appears to me that the best way to reduce the intoxication would be to increase the price of the liquor by putting a duty on liquor imported into the Colony.
Have you ever considered whether it would be advisable to put public-houses under the control of the Government ?-They are under control.
I mean to be run by the Government ?—No.
The Government or Municipal Council ?—No.
Have you ever considered it ?-No.
Do you consider it would be advantageous or not to do so? Can you imagine that it would be advantageous, or do you think that it is out of the question ?—I do not see that you would gain anything by it,
The gain would be that the Government would supply the liquors to be con- sumed and would have their own nominees in charge of the houses, and the profits would go not to the benefit of individuals but to the Government.—Well, of course, that would be the Gothenburg system.
Have you ever considered whether that would work in this place? sidered it in reference to this place.
I have not con-
And you are of opinion on the face of it that it might work well?-I would uot care to express an opinion off hand.
Have you any other remarks that you would like to make on the subject generally? For instance, there is no way that you can suggest for preventing these people from becoming drunk on the premises. They are always found drunk in the street and they are not prosecuted for being drunk on the premises, and presumably that is because there is no satisfactory way of controlling it. I do not think there is a great deal of drunkenness here.
You frequently see sailors carried off from Pedder's wharf ?--Not unless there is a Russian ship in the harbour.
They must get drink in these places ?--Yes.
It is against the law to have liquor supplied to them when drunk on the premises. "No person shall be allowed to become drunk on the premises." You cannot suggest any more effective control than there is now ?--No, I think the control is sufficient in that respect.
Dr. HARTIGAN With regard to adulteration, the definition of which is "no liquor mixed or coloured &c." -you know the definition. What means are taken to ensure that the section of that Ordinance is carried out-as far as the Police are con-