LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1920, Page 4

LICENSING COMMITTEE ELECTION.

SHOPS TO CLOSE IN STRATFORD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. Something in the nature of a bombshell was dropped at to-night's meeting of the Stratford Borough Council, when tiie Mayor announced that in connection with the Licensing Committee election tomorrow, he had received legal advice that all shops in the Borough must close from noon, til» same as on the diy of the gen* eral election.

The Mayor added that he hod no idea of the position until that evening. He had, however, made careful inquiries, ajid found that the law r. .aired that all shops must close. This'was particularly unfortunate, as the el&cfibrt was being held on sale day, and the business people would suffer considerably. Regarding his own position as a candidate for the Committee, the Mayor stated that he had consented to nomination o:iiy on condition that an election would not be necessary. Since then, however, another candidate had been nominated, rendering an election necessary. This candidate had endeavored to withdraw his nomination, but the withdrawal had been received 100 late. The election would cost the Council at least £IOO, a sum which they could ill afford. '

The Council decided to take steps to inform the shopkeepers of the position,