The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1903. LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 192, 16 June 1903, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1903. LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Che question of the constitution of Licensing Committees is a burning me, which ia probab'y excising more liscussion than any other eubjec ° We ake it that the decisions give satisfaction, or otherwise, according to the news of those discussing tho actions oi She various Committees. Behind al.' ;his, however, lies tbe question as t( what are the real functions of a Li jensing Oommitt e. A oi the question would, no duubt, be profit ible as a means of educating publi spit ion and our legislators. The Hon the Premier has taken up the positioi that the Committees should only exer eise judicial functions and be consti tuted accordingly. We fancy tha k . \h people having once enjoyed the privi lege of electing their own committee will hardly be prepared to forego tha privilege. The matter is one worth] of discussion, and as a contributor there'o the following remarks by thi Premier, whan speaking at Hokirika are interesting : -" Serious defec's ir the existing law had, he said, been dis covered. It had been found that owing to irregularities, elections ha( been dec'ared void, and no prjvisioi was made under which the partie: could submit the matter again to th< people, In this respect matters had t< remain as tbey were for three years notwithstanding the fact that ibi people by their votes had resolved on i change. It was no eesy matter t< solve. The licensing poll bad to bi taken simultaneously with the generi elections. If they were separate, onb those directly interested would vote and the conditions would be different The same number of votrswoulinc ba polled. The will of the psopli should not be set aside through thi neglect or wilfulness of returnfng of ficers. This matter would have to b dealt with and amended. The Premie: also refeired to.anomalifs in respect ti decisions on the Port Chalmers licen siDg petition. What took place dis closed grounds for legislation. Par play demanded that opportunity shoulc be given h Men of licenses to bavi their patitions heard. Then again they had licensing committees whi were arrogating to themselves right ceyer contemplated by the Leg ; s lature, such as refusing liceos; because, in their opinion, the de cisions of Magistrates were wrong, o: becausa they did cot think there shoulr be the sams number of licenses as a pressnt. JS'o licensing committee har such power. The Legislature bar. given such powers alone to the peopl who determined this question at tbi ballot boxes. Tbe suggestions of th Dunedin Licensing Committee in re sp; ct to counter-lunches did not infconi to promote their cause. The LegUh ture contemplated the law being fairb and 'reasonably administered and inter" pre'ed. It was not certain wh'ethe: definito proposals would be brough down this s saion, but if there was in terference with the liberty of the sub ject, and uudue interference with thi rights of property, the Legislature mus cot hesitate to do its duty, Thi

Premier thcught that partisan l'c nstng committees were a giea* mist ike. The tribunal Bhou'd be administrative and impartial. The election of gentlemen wbo go on com Imit'ees with fixed opinions to go to extrem 8 was a mis'ake. He waf firmly of opinion that elective lice:sirg committees were k thiag of the plst. Iq Lis opinion, Magnates were t v e prop?r pers 'na to administer tSo licvin sing law?. For bwachrs i f •■ ha licensing li>vg, licensees had to appear be fir Magistrates. He would not onfine i to ono Magistrate ; he only advocate<' a bench of Migistr.-itei who would form the Licenting Oomnvttee in any licensing district. By this meai'S friction would be avoided, and the additional expenses ct elections would also be avoided. He had all nling baen in favour of national option. Oiice tbe people decided the main issue, the administration should be ptac d under a man who would act impartially, and do justice t3 both parties. Both paities might probtMy bring in amending measures this session, but in cases where the will of the peop'e was prevented being given efi j ct to, it would be bis duty as Plima Minister to introduce legislation preventing wrong being done."