THE PROPOSED LICENSING COMMISSIONERS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2450, 11 February 1882, Page 3

THE PROPOSED LICENSING COMMISSIONERS.

To the Editor of the Olohe. Sik, —I notice in your Impression of yesterday that the committee of the Licensed Victuallers’ Aa*ociation, and certain members of the various temperance societies in Christchurch, have met together in solemn conclave and decided that five gentlemen mutually selected shall constitute the Licensing Benches for the east, west, north, and south divisions of the city Now, Sir, I dare say this modem edition of the friendship of Pilate and Herod Is very nice to witness—and so far as these two bodies are concerned no doubt eminently satisfactory—but I want to know, Is no one else to have a voice In the election of the Commiasloners-bat the hotelkeepers acd the water-drinkers ? What about the mnoh larger class who are thus legislated for without having a voice in the matter ? And farther, I doubt not that the election of five gentlemen to constitute four Boards may be agreeable with the letter of the Act, although I fancy it violates the spirit of it. If the Act says that four Boards shall be elected, then let ns have four, not one with quadruple power—because if one Board will suffice, what is the use of four distinct electorates being formed. However, I am glad to learn that there will be conte-ted elections, and others besides the nominees of these two antagonistic bodies will be at the choice of the elector.*, and as plurality of votes will not obtain, it is to be hoped that the ratepayers of the oity will be up and doing on the election day, seeing that recent legislation has placed the choice In the hands of the ratepayers, not confining it to a few wonid-be dictators. Yours, Ac., 1 BALLOT BOX. Christchurch, February 10th, 1882,