YESTERDAY’S LICENSING MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 810, 5 December 1882, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S LICENSING MEETING.

To the Editor. Sir, —Aa one of the applicants,yesterday at the Licensing bench for an extension to eleven o’clock, I beg to call your attention to the manner adopted by two of the members of that bench, who by their laughter at the time the decision was given appeared to consider that a refusal vote given against the applicants was the occasion to enjoy a good joke. Let me say, Sir, that the present Licensing Act has been condemned by the public, the members of the House of Representatives, and by the Ministry themselves, as being arbitrary and unjust, and against the welfare of a large portion of the country settlers, who frequently arrive in town to meet morning trains, etc. The Amended Act of 1882, in reference to this subject, gives power to the bench to grant eleven o’clock licenses; and I claim that I should have privileges granted to me as are given other licensed victuallers, such as those at Christchurch, Timaru, and all other districts in the colony. At any rate a refusal should have been given in a gentlemanly spirit, and not refused in a scornful manner, as the bench rejected our applications yesterday. 1 am, etc., Thos. Quill, Commercial Hotel, Ashburton.