An Interesting Licensing Schema.

Manawatu Herald, 20 March 1897, Page 3

An Interesting Licensing Schema.

- ■ • The publio of WV at Hartlepool are evincing considerable inten at. in the ■ possible outcome of a resolution pro- j posod by the Mayor (Councillor , Clarkaon), at a meeting of ih« Oounoil. It waa to the effect *• that a committee be appointed to conaidt-r whether, in case of a new lioonae, under the Licensing Acts, being required for any district in the town, tbs Corporation should apply for such I license, with a view to applying the j profits to the relief of the rates, and ! to appoint such committee." The Mayor slated that the Council had previously recognised the principle i of acquiring land to relieve the rates, and a resolution was subsequently brought forward with a view of acquiring the gas and water works with a similar object, fie did not know how the resolution would be received either by the publicans, on the one hand, or the teetotallers on the other. One reason for the Bench refusing a license was that they would be presenting some one with from £2000 to £10,000, which they were indisposed to do, even in the face of a license being required, Did the Corporation place itself in a position to submit plans, and apply fora license, even although they had to put it up for auction as soon as it wae granted, the Bench might grant the license. He did not wish to inorease the drinking facilities, but asked them to look at the matter from a commercial point of view. Af a license would inorease the value of property by £10,000, he asked the Council to put themselves in a position to receive the property, rather than let it pass into the bands of a private firm, as the trustee! of the publio funds, to be used for the relief of rates. He saw little difference in the town acquiring a publio house or a gas works. Ten supported the motion, and eight voted against it, and a oommittee was therefore formed to consider the prooticabiiity of the Mayor's proposal.