HOTEL LICENSE FORFEITED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 131, 27 October 1914, Page 6

HOTEL LICENSE FORFEITED.

j AN INTERESTING POINT. Wellington, October 21. At the Supreme Court on Saturday a writ of mandamus was applied for by Frederick Charles Cook, publican, Kumeroa, and James Drysdale, sawmiller, Nireaha, against the chairman and members of the l'ahiatua Licensing Committee, on the ground that they bad acted ultra vires in determining the license of the Kumcroa Hotel. A license was granted in June, l.iii, and no local option poll had been taken since. Prior to tin: annual meeting of the Licensing Committee 011 ath June, Lilt, a notice was served on the plaintiff to carry out certain improvements. The Committee granted the license to pain till', but restricted the term until the 30th September, 11114, attaching a condition that the improvements should be effected by the quarterly meeting to be held on 25th May, 1014. At that meeting a temporary license was granted [or three months. At the next quarterly meeting, held 011 2nd September, 191-1, the improvements had not been effected, and the Committee intimated that the license would be determined at the end of the month, on the ground that tiie requirements of the Licensing Committee had not 'been carried out. No notice had at any time been served on the plaintiff, Urysdale, who f was the owner of the property, as to the improvements required by the Committee. Mr S. M. Page, who appeared on behalf of the plaintiffs, contended that the Licensing Committee exceeded their jurisdiction in attaching any such condition when granting the license. The Court reserved judgment.