IMPORTANT LICENSING POINT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 229, 15 June 1918, Page 6

IMPORTANT LICENSING POINT

■V COMMITTEE'S POWERS GTJES- . TIONED. ... By Teleerapli.-Freßs Association." Opotiki, Juno W. AVlien an application for an accommodation license'for Taueatua village, inland' from Whakatane, came before the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee, Jlr. H." Elliott, on behalf of the applicants, applied for an adjournment .in order to wait and see if a' license lapsed elsewhere, enabling the committee to grant a license at Taneatna An adjournment was opposed by Mr. Chalmers, mi behalf of opposing memorialists of the Trtueatna and Waimaim districts, including Maoris. Mr. Chalmers declared that no reason had been advanced for an adjournment, ■ except that the committee should speculate whether there would be a lapse. His witnesses were r'endy to indeed, Mr. Selwyn Mays, of Auckland, for the police, said the point at issue was probably the most important any licensing committee had had to deal with for years. If an adjournment'' was granted there, could be only two very serious conclueion!!. If a. 'majority of the committee resolved to grant an adjournment solely for the purpose of dropping a license, that majority must take the consequences.'They would have exceeded their nowers, and the ense must go before the Supreme Court. Mr. Mays then called evidence to show Hint he was" .ready to go on with the ease. In reply to n nucstion Mr. Elliott also sail ho was ready to proceed. After a retirement the chairman announced that fie committee had decided to srnnr. an adjournment by a majority of four to two. Mr. Mays asked for cost*, but they were refused