LICENSING BENCH UPSET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 546, 29 June 1909, Page 6

LICENSING BENCH UPSET.

•-.. ON: A' BOTTLE; LICENSE MATTER.- ; (By.Telegraph.-Prcsß Association.) : .-..■ ■■;■'■ - Duncdln, Juno 28. • The question of the rights' of licensing committees came before tho Supreme Court to-day, upon a motion for mandamus, calling upon the Dunedin Liconsing Committee'to renow a bottle.license bold by Robert William,. Wilson, grocer, or, in the alternative, that it bo called upon to eit to hoar and determine his application. At the last meeting, of the Licensing Committee, the elected' members that - they had no Jurisdiction to hear the application, andthoreforo refused to dcal.mth.it. ..' -.;•.:'. ~ ■ After hearing lengthy argument, Mr. Justice Dcnniston indicated he ,was _ prepared to decide at onco that the committee had been wroug in refusing to hear and deta. mine the application, but that, if Mr. Soiumon (for applicant) wished him to go further, he would have to take time to consider the matter. '..,,■,. After consultation, Mr. Solomon said that ho was prepared to accept a mandamus in tho form offered by his HonouT, ' and' that if.the committee decided upon hearing the application that it had discretion to rofxißo it, and did so, he could make further application to the Court. .•'/■ . :■ . , . To which his Honour absented, and.a writ of mandamus was ■ theroforo granted; ling tho. Licensing ,Commitco-to hear and determine the application, costs being given against.it to tho extent of fifteen' guineas..