PUBLICANS' LICENSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 76, 23 May 1879, Page 2

PUBLICANS' LICENSES.

We understand that nlthough the annunl licensing meeting takes plnee oh the 4 til of Ja»e( BeVefal hotclkeepers in the district have so far neglected to make the necessary application for a revenue of their license. To such persons, we may point out chat they have, legally-speaking, placed themselves beyond the limits Of the law. " The Licensing Act, 1874," distinctly requires that 21 days' notice shall be given to the Clerk of the Court of the application. Upon this point it is most explicit, and we presume any applicant who neglects to give the necessary notice, places himself "out of Couit." In fact) Wd incline to fie opinion that the Clerk would be simply fuliillin^ his duty if he absolutely refused to have anything to do with applications sent in after the date required by liw. If a rule is violated, who shall define to what extent i t may be transgressed ? A mau who is 24 hours behind, has neglected ns surely to comply with the provisions of the law as one who is 20 days behind. The difference is in degree, not in kind. Whether any obstacle will ha thrown in the way of the licenses of the de faulters we are not of course aware, but we certainly hope the Chairman of the Licensing Bench will take cognizance insotnj way of the instances where a breach of the law hai been committed in the direction indicated. The notice is required by law to afford a3 much puMicitj as possible regard* ing the persons who apply for licenses, and the hotel business so materially affects the morals and welfare of a township and district, and is of so great importance where travellers are constantly passing to and fro, that the Licensing Bench cannot be too strict in insisting upon a full compliance with all the requirements of the Act. If one clause is stretched for a publican's benefit, he muy imagine that every other cliusa is equally elastic, and act accordingly. We understand in some instances applicants have been over a week late.