Conclusion.

The above is a summary of the principal arguments on this subject, bringing it down to the present date. The late Rev. J. Edgar, of Auckland, and Mr. Jago, of Dunedin, both ably discussed it some years ago in pamphlets, but I believe both are out of print and rather out of date. Mr. Joseph Malins, Chief Templar of England, wrote an admirable and exhaustive paper on the subject, which was read at the Convention of the National Association in London in 1885, but it is also a little behind the present time, and has not any special bearing on this Colony or its past history on the subject. In the preparation of this memo. I have been much indebted to it. Mr. Malins' paper is the most forcible and copious argument hitherto published on the subject, and copies have been forwarded to the New Zealand Assembly library. The current information on the subject will be found in the United Kingdom Alliance News (the organ of the Local Option party in Great Britain) obtainable in London at a penny per number.

William Fox.

Since the publication of the above, the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords has decided (on 20th March, 1891) that the licensed victualler has no vested interest in his license, and that what are called renewals are really new licenses every year, and may be refused, at the discretion of the Licensing Justices, without any reason assigned or compensation paid.