The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 5, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1015, 5 March 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 5, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A poll will be taken throughout this electorate nest Tuesday, 12th instaut, for the purpose of electing five members to the Otaki Licensing Bench for the ensuing three years. Tue following eight gentlemen have been nominated : James Gillespie Barclay, farmer,

Shannon, Herbert Freeman, farmer, Otaki, J. K. Horublow, Foxton, Ben. Ling, settler, Otaki,

James McLeavey, farmer, Ohan, Joseph Michael O’Connor, farmer,

Waikanae, Willliam Tompsitt, farmer, Otaki, Thomas Gains Vincent, land

agent, Levin

Excepting Messrs Barclay, Hornblow and Vincent, the otlier nominees, with the Magistrate, constituted the old Bench. Since the last Bench was elected the electoral boundary of Otaki has been altered, taking in Foxton and northward. It is a pity that the temperance and trade parties did not confer and arrange a Bench, as has been done in a number of other electorates, and so save the expense of an election, which has to be borne by local governing bodies. All that the Bench can do is to see that the licensing law is properly administered —and we presume that this is the wish of both parties ; every licensee is entitled by law to obtain the renewal of his license unless (a) the applicant is of bad fame and character, or of drunken habits, or (b) that the premises are not maintained at the required standard, or are out ol repair, or that the rooms are insufficient for public accommodation, or that the place of convenience is not kep r . in a clean and wholesome state, or (c) that the house is conducted in an improper manner, and drunkenness permitted therein, or (d) that any of the conditions upon which the license was granted have not been satisfactorily fulfilled. If the hotels are being properly conducted, the Licensed Victuallers have nothing to fear by the presence ol temperance members on the Bench —in fact they should be welcomed by those licesees who desire to conduct their premises in accordance with the Act.