The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1900. A SIGNIFICANT RUMOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 23 August 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1900. A SIGNIFICANT RUMOUR.

A veev strange and significant rumour is going about, to the effect that certain parties have bought the Bell Block Hotel and propose securing a site in New Plymouth, upon which a new house will \ e erected, to which the license will be transferred. It seems hardly possible in the face of the law to credit such a rumour, but it is so openly talked about that it seems certain that the possibility of doing so has been canvassed. Indeed, it is stated that the K.M. has practically promised his sanction. From our knowledge of Mr. Stat.ford, we should say he is just the last man iu the world to give any satisfaction to any one approaching him on such an errand. In this case, however, the law fortunately appears to stop such an action being taken, even if there is a desire to do so, When the Licensing Act of 1881 was passed, provision was made for transfciting licenses in the manner suggested, but the power was so grossly abused that in 18!)5 the law was amended, so that the power-to transfer licenses from one part of the district to ano her was restricted. Clause i) 7, of the 181)1 Act says: —" If any holder of a license shall desire to remove his license from his licensed p> emisos to any other house in the same licensing district, he shall give notice in such ione of the forms in the third schedule as shall bo applicable, of his intor.ded Application in the same manner i.'S notice is required to be given cf an ipplicntion for a license." The i Akoho'ic Liquor Hale Control Act of 1895, Clause 22, Section 4, amended this to read : " If a holder of a license shall desire to rcmovo his license from .his licensed premues to any other house

in the same undivided borough, or ward of a borough, or town district, or riding . of a county, or road district, being in no case further than one quarter of a ( mile by the nearest road from such i licensed premises." The Licensing i Act, of 1881, had been previously em- ' bodied in the " Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act" of 1893, an Act to give I the people greater control over tbe ' granting and refusing of licenses under the Act of 1881. This Act had restricted licenses to the several licensing districts, and the clause we have quoted from the Act of 1895, was to prevent the particular thing which it is stated is now about to be attempted. How,in the face of the quarter mile limitation, it is proposed to do so, is more than we can say. It is generally agreed however, that a coach and four can be driven through most Acts of Parliament. That every possible effort will be made to resist this barefaced attempt to force another licensed house on the town goes without saying, as no one can pretend that it is required. It is such attempts to override the wishes of the community that impart so much bitterness and ill-feeling into this ques-1 tion, and tend to destroy any hope of regulating the traffic. If those who are moving in the matter are wise they will at once abandon such a scandalous attempt to subvert the wishes of the great majority of the inhabitants of New Plymouth.