THE PETITION TO THE LICENSSING BENCH.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 149, 14 June 1892, Page 2

THE PETITION TO THE LICENSSING BENCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— l think it is due to those who signed the above to explain why it was ii»t presented iv due course. The lady having charge of the petition was suddenly called away to Wellington on important business, and requested that the petition be sent after her. This was done accordingly but through some bungling in the pot office in Wellington she did not get it in time to forward it before the bench sat. The promoters of the petition regret this result very much, as if it was before the Bench it would haye materially supported the constable in his opposition to a new license being granted. The petition represented over 200 respectable residents in the Borough who were legally entitled to sign it. In this connection will you allow me to remark on that mysterious par you have taken from the Mercury re the composition of Licensing Benches. Where the Mercury can find perfectly independent persons, capable of steering a calm and unbiased course in dealing with the liquor traffic, except it be in a toy shop, is impossible to conceive. How any body of live men can deal with such a fruitful source of evil, without being biased for or against it, must be left to the fertile brain of the Mercurial editor. Surely only an automatic, heartless Bench could be capable of such lifeless indifference ! No, no, Mr Editor, please try again. I am, etc., Truth.