WESTPORT HARBOR BOARD ENQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 83, 12 August 1913, Page 6

WESTPORT HARBOR BOARD ENQUIRY.

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, August 12. The Parliamentary Committee set up to inquire into the appointment of Mr William Ryan Simpson to the Westport Harbor Beard resumed this morning. Mr Myers represented Mr Simpson.

Correspondence was read from the Under-Secretary of Justice stating that between the years 1907 and 1912 there were two convictions recorded against Mr Simpson at Westport, and five at Karamea.

Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., at Nelson, and the Chairman of the Motueka Licensing Committee, said that prior to the meeting of the Committee in March, 1912, an adverse report was received concerning conduct on Simpson’s premises. The Committee did not adjudicate on the report, but called on Mr Simpson to show cause why the license should not bo refused.

To Mr Atmore: In transferring the license to Mr Curtin, the Committee did not take the convictions against Mr Simpson into consideration, there being no application from him. He would not have given a person with such a list of convictions a license without investigation, but he would not necessarily refuse such a man a license.

To Mr Fisher: The Licensing Committee had given Mr Simpson three months’ notice to show cause why the license should not he renewed. It was not a notice to got rid of the license. The Committee had never refused Mr Simpson a license, and never held an enquiry into his conduct.

To Mr I sit t: An investigation would have been held into the police report if Mr Simpson had prosecuted the application for renewal.

To Mr Statham : The Licensing Committee did not decide anything about Mr Simpson’s character. The Licensing Committee did not decide that Mr Simpson was unfit to hold a license. To the Chairman: With a knowledge of the previous convictions, the Committee granted Mr Simpson’s license in 1910. The police objected to the renewal.

To Mr Myers: The Bench did not refuse a license to Mr Simpson.