THE DOMAIN LICENSING QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2311, 21 December 1889, Page 2

THE DOMAIN LICENSING QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. .. Sir, —lt was not my intention to have troubled you with any communica* tion regarding the present contention m your columns, re the granting permission to the Caledonian Society for a license for a booth m the Domain on the fete day, and it is only because my name is con* tinually cropping up m that correspondence that I think it advisable so far as I am person* ally concerned to explain the position. It- is urged imprimis, tb.it I signed the petition to the Borough Council requesting that body to prevent ihe sale of liquor m the Domain. My impression is that the Borough was asked to make a Vy-law with that object m view. This was not done by the Council and the petition consequently feli through. I am still of the same opinion as when signing the petition but not to the rabid extent that some of my friends are. Not being a teetotaller I ani able to look at things from a reasonable point of view and from that point I feel that I have acted. The meeting of the Licensing Committee was called by me at t\ierequestoi two of'the members Messrs Alcorn and Duncan. It did not emanate from myself, and it was never intended by me to be anything but an informal meeting at which the subject generally could be fairly.discussed. Unfortunately my illness (of nearly a week's duration) prevented my being present and m my absence the members present thought proper to refuse what had not bsen asked for. **- ■■ After hearing an explanation of the position m which the Borough Council wou'd be placed—knowing also of the informality of the resolution of the teetotal section of the Bench, and haviog been credibly informed that the action of one of the members of the Bench was prompted by an antagonistic fcelidg towards the Caledonian Society—l without hesitation signed the application. v I am told ty friends that a number of people (who ought to know better) have asserted that my short indisposition was a convenient one. If necessary I shall publish a certificate from my medical adviser, and I think this .will satisfy the public that the parties, referred to have, drawn-largely _up»n.their__iirjgg[inati3a_ for their facts throughout. '7 ■ In conclusion I must refer to Mt Duncan's statement contained m bis letter m last nighfs "Guardian" that I had "given hinTc-early to understand three days before the meeting that I was unconditionally against granting any license for the sale of liquor m the Domain." This 1 emphatically deny, the necessity for making any such remark being wanting. Being a free agent, not being prejudiced or bound by any other obligation than that belonging to my position on the Bench, I should certainly never have thought of tying myself up m that way. Thanking you for space and intending this to be my only communication oh this subject. I am, etc., John G. Restell.