LICENSING BENCH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 5

LICENSING BENCH

The adjourned meetine of tho Licenslne Committee was held yesterday at noon. On the bench wore Mr. W. G. Eiddell. S.Jt. (ohairman), Messrs. G. Pethcrlck, J. Smith, P. Mcadowcroft, W. J. Hclyer, and 0. Cliilman. AH the hotel licenses adjourned from tne annual mectinu were granted except that of tho Clarendon Hotel, which was further adjourned until July 26 to allow of certain repairs now in hand being completed; , J. T. Foley (for whom Mr. M. Myers appeared), and B. M. Brewer (represented by; Mr. W. Perry) applied for wholesale licenses. The applications were heard toRcther. N Mr. Myers, in addressing the Bench, said a lenal point was Involved In the applications. Under the Licensing Act of 1908 additional wholesale licenses could he granted. In 1910 there was an amendment of the Act, and under this latter Act tnero was provision for local option. <vnd It was further nrovidod that in the event of no-llcenso not bclne carried, tho number of licenses could not be increased. That was the position from 1910 to 1918. In the latter year tho whole scone of tho law was altered. First of all. there was provision for u'special poll (which was held in April/1919), and in tho event of prohibition nor, beinn carried then tho ordinary triennial polls woro to bo held. In the meantime the local option poll was completely dono «,wav with by tho Act of 1918, and section 5 of tho Act of 1910 rcstrlctine tho number of licenses was no loneer in foron. Tho law was now nroclsel.v as it was under the Act of 1908. and additional .licenses could bo erantcd. He contended, therefore, that there was no reason why the two licenses as applied for should not be granted. Mr. Myers pointed out that there was now one wholesale license less than in 1914. Tho committee .after a short retirement to consider the matter, refused to grant the applications. Tho chairman stated that the committee agreed that the law was aB Mr. Myers contended, but the position was that tho committee had the right to use its discretion, and it Baw no necessity for onlarginE the number of wbblesalo licenses. Tho committee bail unanimously dooldcd to refus» tho application.