The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1901. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 215, 17 September 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1901. THE LICENSING QUESTION.

If, as the Premier states, he hopes to see Parliament adjourn on or about the Ist of October, there appears little hope of anything being done to amend the Licensing Act io the direction of preventing the will of the people being set aside as in the case of the Hotel Commonwealth license. It is really surprising how apathetic people are in such matters: although at the time of the case referred to public feeling was at fever heat, months have been allowed to pass and nothing has been done to prevent the same thing being done at the next annual licensing meeting. Some time back we warned ! our readers that an attempt w&i to be made to remove the Okato Hotel license into New Plymouth, and that advantage should be taken of the fact that Parliament was in session to make it impossible; but no action has been taken, and apparently the matter will be as easily carried out as the removal of the Bell Block license. Certainly Mr. Baker, the licensee of the Okato Hotel, took the trouble a few weeks back to deny that there was any inten- | tion to remove the Okato license, and we are quito prepared to accept his assurance »s far as he is concerned. But we are in possession of information which enables us to inform our readers that, notwithstanding Mr. Baker's denial, this transfer is intended, provided the law is not altered. The new site has been chosen and all the details arranged, one of which entails the buying out of Mr. Baker's interest in the Okato Hotel. The certainty of New Plymouth growing into a large and populous centre in the not very distant future, makes the speculation a thoroughly sound one, and it is not at all surprising, after the recent ruling of the Supreme Court, to see the opportunity taken advantage of. It is the duty of those who object to the preseut interpretation of the law to have it so clearly set out by the Legislature that the will of the people cmnot be aguin set aside in like manner.