Lay of the Trade, A

DESCRIPTION: "Staples and Co. were brewers, And they plied a roaring trade," forcing those who rented their rooms to sell their beer. They make a large gift to churches, but the town still votes for prohibition. They win in court, but it will be a minor victory
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1903 (Wellington Petrel, according to Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ)
KEYWORDS: drink trial New Zealand
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1903 - The Staples and Co. case
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ, pp. 98-100, "A Lay of the Trade" (1 text)
NOTES [117 words]: The way Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ describe this song, it seems to be self-referential. It was printed in the "Petrel" of Wellington, and Staples and Co. sued for libel, demanding a thousand pounds in damages (a penalty which, in 1903, I suspect would have been enough to shut down the paper). When the case was heard, the jury found the paper guilty -- but imposed damages of just one farthing.
Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ's version is not the original from the "Petrel," but a version printed later by the Wellington "Prohibitionist." It was published two weeks after the trial. Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ do not say so, but I am guessing it was updated to include the trial result. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.3
File: BaRo098

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