The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1878.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 204, 7 June 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1878.

Tt has repeatedly been reported that it is the intention of the Government to introduce an Act to amend the existinglicensing law at next session of Assembly. It is generally admitted there still is much room for amendment, and should Ministers be able to pass a permanent, satisfactory measure, they will deserve well of the country. But there is one minor matter in connection with the Licensing Court which occasions unnecessary annoyance and inconvenience, which we think ought to, and might very easily be remedied. We refer to the fact that invariably the Court is advertised to be held upon a day upon which there is not the slightest intention. of holding it. The Court was advertised to be held in Balclutha on Tuesday last, but it was not. intended to be held on that day. The licenseholders and others applying for licenses travelled all the way from Clinton, Catlins River, Port Molyneux, and other distant parts to attend the Court on Tuesday, but no Licensing Comj missioner thought of putting in an appearance on that day. At the hour named the Court as usual was formally adjourned till the following day, when the applicants again attended. The Commissioners then constituted the Court, and the business was gone on with. It was no exceptional case this week, as the same thing occurs at every licensing meeting. We believe the reason for this is that the Licensing Courts have to be held on the same day all over the country, and the Chairman (Mr Carew) having to attend the Court in Tokomairiro at the same hour that, day, cannot of course be at Balclutha. We think that even with the law as it at present stands, various courses could be adopted to remedy the grievance complained of. It appears not. to be absolutely necessary that Mr Carew should be present at the sitting of the Court here. The other three members of the Bench held the Court and conducted the business in his absence on Wednesday. Then why should they not have done so on Tuesday, the day fixed for the Court ? Again, if it is well-known to the Bench that the Court is not to be held on the day fixed, it would be an easy matter to give public notice of this so that parties need not attend till the following day. This is neither' the season of the year nor the weather during which a large number of people should be obliged to undertake long journeys for no purpose. The thing is so absurd and the remedies so varied and so simple that the wonder is it has not been put right long ago. We trust that after attention has thus been called to the matter, those whose duty it is will prevent a recurrence of the inconvenience referred to.