The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN SATURDAY, MARCH 6. 1915. POSTAL AND LICENSING AFFAIRS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 March 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN SATURDAY, MARCH 6. 1915. POSTAL AND LICENSING AFFAIRS.

enquiries made by the Chronicle concerning mails from Levin southward t-licited the fact that Manakau and i7uau both have the benefit of direct mans from this town. The current

i.'eliei that the letters have to go to \t cllington first and then back to Man- | a Kan or Ohau is based on a practice | mat ceased to be followed years ago. \\v are glad to give publicity to this information, as the contrary belief is neid widely in tliis town . The failure, therefore, of two nomination papers i'idieved to have been posted in Levin iast Friday) to roach the returning officer at Manakau until Monday becomes a subject for further enquiry. As thay lulled to reach him on Saturday, he was placed iu a peculiar position ol liaving only three valid nouiinati >n papers in his possession at the time nl the closing of nominations (Saturday last). The occurrence proves once more the desirability of personal service of nomination papers on the returning officer in every instance, regarding the position arrived at in i consequence of this untoward happon- [ nig, a suggestion has been made nut the two delayed nomination papers Do treated as valid, and Messrs Mcand Tonipsitt declared duly clecteu. To our mind a deplorable precedent would be established were tins suggestion acted upon. The letter of the law, whatever it may be, should be acted upon; there should be no resort to an act that would establish a dangerous precedent for future observance,'* however unobjectionable its initiation might be in Tegard to the partieuluar case under review. The appointment (by the Governor-Mi-(Jouncil) of Messrs McLeavey and Tonipsitt to fill the extraordinary vacancies may Be a legal procedure in terms ot tue codified Licensing Act of 1908; if so, fliat course should be followed, otherwise, an extraordinary election to remedy the incompleteness ol the personnel of the committee should be oraered without delay. A layman's reacting of what apparently is an unambiguous and indefeasible sections api, to err because of the qualifying eftect of otTier clauses in a lengthy statute, but with this preamble in mind we venture to say that section 48 ot the Act gives indubitable power ;or overcoming the present insufficiency or membership. The clause runs:—"fF none or the elective members of the commif/Eee are duly elected, or if the number elected is less than the number required to be elected, the Governor may appoint such number ot fit" persons resident in the district as will complete the required number, and every memuer so appointed shall hold office until the next election of the committee." in some circumstances it might have ><een contended, fairly enough, that a representative from each side (Pro t-iiccnse and No-License) should be appointed by Clio Governor-in-Douncil, out, in the present event, having regard to the fact that the No-License party allowed the poll to close without nomination of any representative oi their party, we think the merits ot tne case would be fully complied with i. -Messrs McLeavey and Tonipsitt were re-established in positions filled by ■tnem on the old committee.