The recent developments about a band club and its owners reminded me of an episode on the Gozo ferry quite some years ago.

In the run-up to the post-war election, a prospective candidate was haranguing a group of listeners. “If we are returned we will take the fields from the landlords and give them to the farmers.” “Hear, hear,” shouted an enthusiastic listener. “And we will take the houses from the landlords and give them to the tenants.” “Hear, hear,” shouted the supporter even more enthusiastically.

Encouraged by the response, the prospective candidate went further: “And we will take the buses from the owners and give them to the drivers.” “The hell you will,” shouted the erstwhile supporter, now openly hostile. “Why not,” asked the speaker, rather crestfallen. “Because I have two buses and don’t you dare even look at them.”

I used to quote this episode to my students at university when I used to lecture on rents and valuations.

To expect governments to act equitably in this matter when they are probably the biggest users of clubs is rather naïve.

Did I hear someone whisper: “Cicero pro domo sua.”

Things have not changed much!