The Licensing Committee.

Manawatu Herald, 13 September 1894, Page 2

The Licensing Committee.

In framing the Act of 1893 the Government wisely arranged that tho Stipendiary Magistrate should not only be a member of every Licensing Committee in his district, but the chairman. This provision was hailed with pleasure by all Who desired to See the conduct and deliberations of these elective bodies carried on decently. In this Licensing district by some misfortune the only time the Committee has had the presence of the Magistrate was at the first, the annual meeting, and since then the committee has been allowed to "go-as-you-please," a style which was very nearly tatal to the good ot the district. The appointment of one of the members as chairman at the last meeting was mada under the excuse that at a

previous meeting he had talked so much that the proposal- hoped as chairman he would be quieter ! We ; say that this was the reason given by the proposer but we fear the true reason had something to do with a ■ desire to sec-ire the carrying out of a preconceived determination. Anyway the " reason" was not much to the credit of a member of what should be a deliberative body, and proves how wise was the provision made in the Act to secure a gentleman whose qualification I**"1 **" for the office were somewhat different to the one urged for the appointment of the chairman of the day. It also points how extremely unfortunate it was that anyone should be appointed a member who cannot do his duties. We do not blame Mr Brabant, but we do those answerable for his absence. At the meeting of the Committee last week there were only seven members present out of nine, and it was in the power of a minority of the members of the committee to commit an act which would not be acceptable to the majority had they been present. We find the Government had ordered one member away, and the other absentee has very likely a doubt as to his being entitled to keep his seat. It may be urged that as only four members carri-d the resolution for refusing the application for a transfer they might really be in the minority and thus committed a wrong. They may be in a minority, but they certainly did no wrong, as they countenanced no extraordinary act and by their decision left matters as they were before the application was made, leaving the ground open for any future attempts that may be considered advisable to make. Reverse this view and then it will be seen how great a danger was averted by only one vote. If the minority had got hold of this one man the transfer would have been granted beyond the power of recall or revision and the precedent for the power of exchanging licenses from township to township established. Important business like that brought before the Otaki* Licensing Committee should have secured the attendance of every member, and in case of any future attempt being made, every member who cannot attend to his duties should resign and be replaced by those who will. It is not fair either to the holders of licenses or the public that questions which should be considered by nine members is left to be dealt with by any smaller

number, by which a minority of the committee can do that which is agaiiist the pleasure of the rhajority.