LICENSING ISSUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 8, 10 March 1950, Page 4

LICENSING ISSUE

Sir,—Recipients of the block voting cards now being circulated must be wondering exactly “what’s cooking”. May I ask, through you, Sir, a few pertinent questions? 1. Who are these candidates that stand for progress—progress for whom or what?

2. Why only one representative for the Whakatane area? Is it to show a spread of representation? It seems strange—what about the other three local candidates? 3. Why no public statement to support their claim for our vote? It was only by reading the Beacon that many realised there are ten candidates. Our voting rights have been restricted and we are now canvassed for postal votes- together with this revealing card.

Voting the ticket is the approved method advocated by political parties but this is non political. My votes will go to men who are not prepared to tie themselves up into a committee before they are elected. Yours etc., \ “DUBIOUS” Whakatane,*'March 9. Sir—lt was pleasing to see in your Wednesday’s issue the prominence given to the Licensing Committee election. Further prominence has been giyen the question by a caller at some of .our homes who left a list of candidates for whom we should vote. A few of us in discussion are intrigued to find on the ticket the names of three Rotorua candidates, one from Opotiki and one from Whakatane. There are four candidates offering themselves from this district and until the circulation of this ticket aroused suspicions we might have been inclined to regard them all as suitable representatives. It seems very desirable that all districts should be represented on the new committee about to be elected but it is not readily understandable why one Whakatane candidate should ally himself with four outsiders when there are three other men from this/ area offering themselves for election. Of course this is a free country and the man concerned is entitled to team up With any group of outsiders if he feels so minded. On the other hand the electors are also 'free to ask him to answer the following questions:—

1. Is he in any way directly or indirectly committed to protect the interests of any persons or company now engaged in the liauor trade?

2. Did he approach any v ofj the other Whakatane candidates to secure their viewpoints before joining another team? 3. If not why not?

4. Would not a fair distribution of seats be; one each from Rotorua Borough and Rotorua County, one each from Whakatane Borough and Whakatane County,' and one from Opotiki where only one candidate is standing?

Although Whakatane had only one representative on the old committee there is no reason why we should not have two or more if suitable men are offering. The reports made on district hotels by the police before the Licensing Control Commission did not all make good reading and it is therefore important that we elect members whose aim will be to improve the standard of hotel accommodation and bar services. Yours etc.,

“ANTI COMBINE” Whakatane, March 9.