LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5542, 23 June 1883, Page 5

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

HEATHCOTE. A meeting of the Heathcote Licen-ing Committee was held nt the H::thjote , Boad Board office on tho 21s, t inst., to con- ■ sider a letter from the Crown Law Officer > as to whom License Fees are payable. Present—Messrs H. Bectetls (Chairman), Geo. Booth, and H. A. Bamford," Mr Jameson, on behalf of the County Council, J. H. Hopkins, Chairman Woolston Town Board, and Mr Wheeler, Sumner. The Crown Law Officer's letter, which had been forwarded by the Chairman to Mr Mills, Clerk to the Committee, was not forthcoming, and the Chairman briefly quoted contents of same from iremory, among which was the Solicitor General's opinion — "That Town Districts, and not County Councils, were entitled to the license fees collected within the Town Districts." Mr Hopkins produced a copy of the decision of Judge Williams in the case of Southland County Council v Gore Town Board, wherein tho decision was in favour of the Town District, and he also quoted from the Town Districts and Licensing Acts. Mr Jameson read tho opinion of Mr Joynt, where he is of contrary opinion. The meeting was very discursive, and the Chairman thought that the best way would be to pay the fees to the County Council, and let the Town Districts fight tbe matter out with the Council. Whereupon Mr Hopkins said that if certificates for his [ district (Woolston) were sot issued to their Treasurer, he should apply to the | Judge of the Supreme Court for a mandamus calling upon the Chair man and members of the Licensing Committee to show cause why they do not comply with section U9 of the Licensing Act. Mr Hopkins' Town District did not know the County Council ia the matter. Mr Booth here left the metting, and as there was no quorum, no further business could be done; upon whi-ii J\ir Hopkins notified his intention to the Chairman of applying to the Supreme Court in tho matter.