RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 228, 24 September 1894, Page 3

RODNEY COUNTY COUNCIL.

OMAHA HOTEL LICENSE CASE,

A WARM DISCUSSION.

A CASE of considerable interest, involving the loss of a publican's license, came before the Rodney County Council, aba meeting held in W ark worth on Monday. All the members were presonb. The Clerk read a letter received trom Mr Harper, of Omaha. The writer stated that at a meeting of the Waitemata Licensing Committee held in Jane, at Helonsville, he applied for and was granted a renewal of hia accommodation house license for his hotel at Omaha. On receipt of advice from the Clerk of tha^ Licensing Committee that the certificate had been granted, Mr Harper forwarded a cheque for £10, the fee, to the Clerk ab Helensville. Tho Clerk returned the money bo Mr Harper, also informing him that the Treasurer of the Rodney Council was the proper person -to receive the fee. Mr Harper sent the money to Mr Chaplin, County Clerk, residing at Warkworth. The clerk retured the money, seating that he had no authority to receive the same, as tbe time had expired provided by tho Licensing.Act, consequently the certificate was void. Mr Harper now wrote to the Government, and received an answer that) the Government could nod interfere in the matter. He now wrote to Mr Bush, S.M., Chairman of Licensing Committee, and was advised by that gentleman to bring the matter before the County Council, which ho now, did with the following result :— On tho Clerk reading the letter, Mr Leeds, Councillor for Matakana Riding, asked by whose authority the Clerk had returned the money. The Clerk: I had no discretion in thia mabter. The Act prescribed the time for receiving the fee. Mr Leeds (warmly): You took upon yourself too much. Did you consul* aby member of the .Council before returning the cheque ? Tho Clerk: I did nob.

Mr Leeds : Then you ought. The Chairman (Mr T. A. Gubb): Tho Clerk has done only his duty. The Council can do nothing in this jnatter.,..,,. ~,. Mr Knagge (Omaha) said Mr Harper had taado a mistake in sending the money to the wrong person,, bub the blame rested with the Clerk to the Licensing Committee, who hod been dilatory in communicating with Mr Harper. The hotel had been jWell conducted and he had heard no complaintß, and ib seemed hard that Mr Harper should lose hia license. The Chairman: Ib is not the Council's business to discuss whether this hotel .has been well conducted. The Act is* v'ciy clear; we have no power to interfere. Mr Leeds : Ibis a discreditable dodge to take away a man's license on the part of the prohibitionists. The Chairman : That is an improper remark. No member of the Council has had anything to do with this matter. Mr. Leeds: I'll move thab the Clerk,be > instructed to receive the money, This is ai mean dodge. I would like to see tho Act. The Clerk read the clauses bearing on the matter.

Mr Bucban (Tauhoa) said it was clear the Council could do nothing.

Tho Chairman : I will be no party to doing an illegal act in favour of, in ray opinion, a demoralising traffic. I would, however, have preferred the hotel closed by a direct vote than the way it has been done.

Mr Becroffc (fprb Albert): I protest strongly againsb Mr. Leeds'insinuations, also in putting blame (jnfcho-Clerk. , - ■-, -■ Mr Grant (Hoteo): 'I shall vote'ttetainsb Mr Leeds' motion. I don'b think any blame ought to rest on the Clerk; Mr: Horrieon;(Warkwdrth): I'm a temperance man and ia: prohibitionist), and I supporb the view expreesed by the Chair*man. Mr Leeds' attack on the Council ia clearly out of order and insulting. Mr Straka, Puhoi, also a member of tho Waitemaba Licensing Committee, said be supposed tbe hotel would hare to be closed until next June. ■ *

The Chairman : The Committee, in my opinion, cannob grant a license for three yeara. However, ib is sofa for the Council bo discuea that question.

Mr Leeds : I hope the Committee will take steps to keep this hotel open.

The Chairman : I will personally appeal to the Supreme Court if the Committee act) contrary to law.

The Chairman then moved and Mr 0. Harrison seconded, "That the Clerk did only his duty in refusing to receive the fee after the time allowed by law for receiving the same." The motion was carried, the Chairman, Messrs Becroft, Buckton, Grant, Knaggs, Harrison and Phillips voting for, and JVJr Leeds against, Mr SCraka declining to vote.