A DEPUTATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 483, 24 July 1902, Page 2

A DEPUTATION.

.THE LICENSING LAWS.

DEPUTATION TO 'IT-110 ACTINGPREMIER,

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night.

A large deputation representing the New Zaaland Alliance waited on Sir Joseph Ward 10-niglit, and asked that the licensing poll machinery should ’no made more perfect. It was pointed out;lhat returning officers did not seem to know what their duties were, and it was desired that the matter should 1.-3 made perfectly clear. The contradictory decisions given in the eases at Oarnaru and Bruce were explained, and ft, was stated that a, Bill had been drafted, doing away with tiie Regulations under the Regulation of Bocal

Elections Act, BS7fi. The main lea lure of this Bill was provision for (lie taking of a recount-, at the discretion of the Stipendiary Magistrate, from whose decision an appeal could he made to the Supreme Com!. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply* said that there could lie no two opinions that the law should lie administered in one disIrict the same as in another. He had not seen the Bill referred In hy the deputation, Puti speaking frankly (lie did not for a moment- doubt- the value of 1 lie Bill), lie' thought' that in a, case where what was desired was that tiie machinery should work as the Legislature had intended tiiat it should, whatever was to lie done .should be drafted by the law officers, submitted to Cabinet for consideration, and by il introduced in the ordinary jVny. He thought that this anomaly in (lie law ought to lie removed, and lie would, lie said, be very glad To have ili removed if possible.