PETITION FOR ENQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 470, 11 July 1902, Page 3

PETITION FOR ENQUIRY.

A NORTHERN LICENSE. REPLY OF MINISTER OF JUSTICE. By Telegraph—Pross Association. Auckland last night. A lottor has been received by Mr Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., from tho Minister of Justico, in answer to a petition asking for an onquiry, arising out of tho granting of tho hotel liconso at Mangaturoto. Tho Minister states thero are two sots of charges against Mr Hutchinson, S.M.: — (1) That he showed bias in rospcct to the Mangaturoto liconso and prejudiced the case ; (2) that ho is unfitted to hold tho office of Stipendiary Magistrato. With regard to the first, if tho petitioners are in a position to prove tho chargo of bias their propor remedy is by way of proceedings in the Supromc Court, which has power to quash the licenso if found illegally granted. Tho second ohargo really amounts to an expression of opinion. Tho petitioners ollego that they believe tho Magistrato is unfitted to hold that position, but it must bo obvious that Government would not bo justified in acting upon such an expression of opinion or belief, unsupported by any oonorete facts or specific instances. The Minister says that he is not prepared to sot up an enquiry into the conduct of the Magistrate unless upon specific charges supported by some proof. In forwarding the foregoing letter to Mr Wesley Spragg, Mr Fowlds writes : “ The law has failed to protect our liberties. What we now want is justice and tho maintenance of tho rights of the people. Wo can afford to spend labor and money to secure those. Ono publio-houßo more or less iB of great importance to the people of Maungaturoto, but the principles violated in this case, and the unendurable and growing tyranny of tho drink traffic are all important to tho whole colony.”