A MAJORITY DECISION.

Shannon News, 22 May 1923, Page 4

A MAJORITY DECISION.

ON BREACH OF LICENSING ACT GIVEN BY FULL COURT. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Full Court gave judgment this afternoon in the ease Astle v. Sweeney, which the appellant was convicted by a magistrate of a breach of section 146 (a) of the Licensing Act, in that he caused to be published in a newspaper in the no-license area of Masterton an advertisement, as to spirituous liquors supplied by his firm. The Chief Justice, in the bourse of his judgment, said that the object of the licensing statutes was to impose restrictions on the sale of liquor, and that it was not for the Court to whittle away express legislation, though it might be inconvenient to people desiring liquor or having it for sale. The argument that an advertisement by a trader that he had goods to sell was not solicitation to a possible customer, could not be held valid, and in His Honor’s opinion, the appeal against conviction should be dismissed. Justices Hosking and Herdman agreed that the appeal should be dismissed with £lO 10/- cost. Justices Salniond and Reed dissented, being of the opinion that the appeal should be allowed. The decision, therefore, was in accordance with the opinion of the majority of the Court.