LIQUOR FOR AWAKINO AND MOKAU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 73, 22 April 1909, Page 4

LIQUOR FOR AWAKINO AND MOKAU.

'WHOLESALE LICENSES PRANTED. Not long ago a carrier was prosecuted at Waitara on charges of conveying liquor to the Mokau and Awakino dis- ' tricts, which were in the prohibited ■ area. Counsel for the defendant, however, contended that the land in these ' blocks was not Native land but Crown land, and that as such it was not a prohibited area. That view was upheld by the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert. The expected sequel was not long in making its appearance. If liquor could be carted into Mokau and Awakino, said some, why should it not be sold there? The popular idea tuat "waipiro' was forbidden in the locality had been exploded. Yesterday at Waitara the Taumaranui Licensing Committee heard two applica tions for the issue of wholesale licenses. Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., presided, and the other members present were Messrs Wm. Birdling, Geo. I'earee, K. H. Pi'gott, and G. V. Tate. The applicants were Lionel Legraud Jacob, who applied for the issue of a wholesale license in respect of his premises at Mokau; and Edmund Covenlock, in re-, spect of his premises on lredale Quay,' Awakino. The applicants were represented by Mr J. H. Quilliam and Mr. J. E. Wilson respectively. i Upon the first application being read, Mr. W. Wilkes, solicitor, stated that he appeared on behalf of the local branch of the N.Z. Alliance to oppose the application. Mr. Quilliam objected, saying the Alliance had no standing in the matter, and had no right to be represented. The Magistrate ruled Mr Wilkes out of court.

Mr.. Wilkes then claimed the right to object as an elector and as representing electors. Mr. Quilliam pointed out that the only man who had any right to raise abjection to the issue of n wholesale license was the Inspector of licensed premises.

Mr. Wilkes' claim lo representation was over-ruled.

Mr. Quilliam addressed the Bench in support of the application, lie quoted from an Appeal Court decision to show that there was nothing to ail'eet the right of the committee to grant a wholesale license where the continuance issue was carried. Objections that might be 'brought to the renewal of a hotel license did not apply in the matter of a wholesale license, vae issue of which was purely a ministerial act on the part of the committee, -and evidence was not required. There was no valid reason why the people of Mokau should not have the usual facilities in this regard, for no-license had not been carried in the district. The applicant was a merchant, and had been carrying on business in Mokau for eleven years. He now found it necessary for his business that lie should have this license. There was nothing against the applicant's character. He pointed out to the Bench that there was no difficulty now in obtaining liquor at Mokau, and surely it would be much better lo have the sale conducted under the immediate supervision of the police. As for the objection that might be raised that the issue of the license would lead to increased drinking, that was absurd.

The committee then took tlie Awakino application, Mr. Wilson supporting it in the terms of Mr. Quilliam's address. Sergeant Iladdrell, Inspector of licensed premise*, put in a written olijection to both applications on the grounds that the licenses were not required; that to grant these licenses was against the interests'of the community, who probably had no idea that such an application was reing made: also that this was in a prohibited district. He thought that possibly prohibition might not apply to the premises of (he applicants, yet the adjacent land came within the prohibited area. The object of the proclamation, he said, would consequently bo frustrated by the issue ot the licenses. The proclamation was made by the (iovernmenf in the interests of the locality, and no good eaus,V| could be shown for evading the effect of the proclamation, liy section 80 of the Licensing Act, IfIUS, subsection 2, it was provided "no new wholesale licenses can be granted within any jftorough or town district in which a license does not exist." Though neither of the places in which the applications are made for was in a borough or a town district by implication, it would seem that it is only in such places that a new wholesale license could be considered ami granted. The Bench retireil briefly to consider the application, and on their return the presiding Magistrate said that after careful consideration they had decided to grant both licenses.