LICENSING MEETINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 13 October 1905, Page 3

LICENSING MEETINGS.

PUBLIC OB PBIVATB.

(Napier Telegraph.) Learning that a meeting of the Napier LioeosiDg Committee was to take plaoo to deal with an opplioation of a temporary transfer, a reporter from this journal proceeded to the Court with the object of attending to report the proceedings. In view of the possibility of objeotion being taken to bis preeenoe the reporter was accompanicd by Mr J. G. Westall, solicitor, to speak on his behalf in the event of suoh a contingency occurring. Two members of 6be committeßi Messrs O. Saunders and Henry Williams, were in attendance, and when they entered the room of the Clerk of the Court the representative of this journal and Mr Westall acoompanied them. Aftsr waiting a abort time the olerk of the Licensing Committee (Mr R. B. Mathias) informed the tw«’ members that Mr Brabant desired to soe them in his room. Following their lead our representative and Mr Westall also prooeeded thither. Mr Brabant, however, Informed the reporter that the room was his private one, that he had no tight there, and consequently the seeker aftrr news bad no option bat to relactaotly withdraw. , , _ Mr Weßtall was more fortunate. Ho informed the Magistrate that he wished to make an application before the business was proceeded with. His Worship replied that he h:d no objection to him doing so. Mr Westall then stated that he appeared on behalf of the Daily Telegraph by whom he had been instruoisi to request that their representative bo allowed to attend this and other similar meetings. The Magistrate said this was a matter for ooDsideration. Mr Westall quoted sootions 41 and 42 of the Licensing Aot of 1831, showing that meetings where transfers were made were opsn to the public. Mr Brabant pointed out that those meetings, like the other one in question, were not licensing meetings proper at all and that they could be held by the Magistrate and any two members of the committee. These transfers were only temporary, and were under review at the next quarterly meeting as provided by section 90 of the Lioensing Act 1881. Under the old law the Magistrate had power to grant a liconae, but under tho amended Act the Magistrate and any two members had tho power to grant a license. This was subsequently changed so that it wos not necessary that the Magistrate and the two members should be present together at the same time to grant a license. He pointed out in this connection that in the case of a Licensing Committee in the country Borne distance from the Magistrate it would be impossible for a Magistrate to attend on the occasion o£ every application for a temporary transfer, and in suoh a ease the views of the members were ascertained io writiDg. There was also another point: Would it be legal to grant a temporary transfer iu a different way to that provided by the Aot ? Another question to be considered was whether the fact of the press being admitted meant that anyone would be able to attend such meetings of the committee and make or oppose applications. He personally was of opinion that suoh meetings were not open to the public under the Act, and there was nothing there to make then? public. but said that he would consider the matter and at the next meeting of his committee would ascertain their opinion as to what course should be pnraned. Mr Westall then thanked Mr Brabant •ad withdrew,