CANT AMONG THE PUBLICANS.
THE following paragraph has appeared in several of the Daily Papers.
at A meeting of the Association of Licensed Victuallers in the parish of St. Paul, Shadwell, and adjacent parts, took place a few days ago, at the Shadwell Dock Coffee-house, for the purpose of adopting further measures to protect themselves from the unfair competition of the numerous gin palaces which have arisen in that neighbourhood. Several publicans addressed the muting; and it appeared, from the statements of the various speakers, that the gin palaces were Increasing to such an extent as to render it necessary for those who were still carrying on the business of publicans to adopt some measures to secure to themselves a remunerating profit fur their trade, the most profitable part of which is now taken from them by the retail venders of spirits, leaving to the regular victualler the most expensive and troublesome part of the business. It was stated, that unless the Magistrates adopted some plan to protect those who afforded proper accommodation to the public, they should be compelled in self- defence to convert their houses into gin palaces, and pull down the parlours and taprooms provided for the accommodation of travellers and labourers. To pre- vent the increase of gin indore,:,which were so much complained of by the Le- gislature and the public fhr their encouragement of immoral habits, this asso- ciation had been organized ; and their only object was to insure for themselves and families a fair competition, and to the public sufficient accommodation and refreshments after the labour of the day. It was agreed, after a long discussion,
that a petition should be prepared by Mr. Pelham, a solicitor, the honorary
secretary, to present to the licensing Magistrates on the next licensing day, pray- ing them not to license any more Louses for the sided exciseable liquors, unless they afforded the usual accommodation found in public-houses, and which is re- quired by the statute and the ancient law and customs of the realm. Several Magistrates in the district have agreed to support the views of the society, which is rapidly increasing in numbers. An association of a similar descrip- tion is funning in the parish of Bethnal (keen and several other parts of the Metropolis."
It has always been a puzzle to us how the consumption of gin could be increased by the want of parlours or taprooms in the gin palaces. At present a person goes into a spirit shop, takes his glass at the counter, and moves off. Suppose he were fur- nished with a seat at a table, would he take less gin? It is not credible. how then can the addition of "sufficient accommoda- tion and refreshments after the labour of the day," lessen the sale of gin ? If a man wants gin, he will not thank you for bread; though if he is in search of bread he may take gin. The fact is, that there is not room in a large proportion of the gin-shops for the preparation, sale, and consumption, of eatables. This the publicans know well enough ; and if therefore they can prevail on the Magistrates to refuse licenses to all retailers of spirits who do not also keep eating-houses, the consequence would be that many of the gin-shops would be shut up, and the publicans would sell the article now sold by the spirit retailers. They acknowledge this to be their real object ; and the avowal is sufficiently impudent ; but it would scarcely be worth notice were it not coupled with the hypocritical pretence of a desire to promote morality. They by no means wish to lessen the sale of spirits, to cut off the most profitable part of their trade, but they have formed an association to monopolize the sale and the profits of it. What has morality to do with this ? It is rank cant and hypocrisy to pretend that morality is at all concerned in the question. The associated publicans, however, are aware that their patrons and landlords on the Magistrates bench require some excuse for doing an act of palpable injustice, and that no better one can be found than a desire to prevent immorality. It is fit that the proceedings of this association should be watched. Much jobbing and gross- iniquity may result from the success of their operations.
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