THE VOIDED LICENSING POLLS.

Press, Issue 11564, 22 April 1903, Page 4

THE VOIDED LICENSING POLLS.

A PROHIBITIONIST OPINION. (srECIAt TO "tSCS PRESS.") DUNEDIN, April 18. Mr John Macgregor, on whose opinion the Bruce Licensing Committee intends to act, and to grant no license, writes that it is perfectly obvious that the Premier is determined that on the liquor question the will of the people shall not prevail. Mr Macgregor point* out that on one point the Solicitor-General's opinion agrees with his, that no provision exists for taking a second poll. "Does the Premier propose," asks tie writer, "to remedy this defect in his own legislation? No. As soon as analogous defects are discovered in the Labour Act the trade union leaders have only to ask and any remedy is forthcoming. What is the explanation of the difference? Simply 'that the Premier is giving effect, not to the will of the people, but to the will of the liquor trade." Continuing, Mr Macgregor says:—"The Solicitor-General has advised that in spite of the fact that no vote has been taken, licenses can bo granted. The Premier knows that it would follow that licensees wrould be entitled to renewals except in certain specified cases. As to the correctness of the opinion of the Solicitor-General, that is a question that is certain to come before the Court of Appeal, and perhaps the Privy Council. 1 venture, however, to say that "sect ion 8 (4) of the Act of 1895 Ims no bearing on the question at all. There is no result, to declare, either in the affirmative or negative. This reasoning is analogous to that by which the Solicitor-General (rightly, I think) arrives at the conclusion that section -52 of the Licensing Act, 1881 (relating to 'mischance or misadventure'), has no application dn the case of the poll beintj void. "I am not afraid to commit myself to tho opinion that the point ia not even arguable." (PEiSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 18. The Wellington No License League has passed resolutions protesting against the action of the Wanganui Licensing Committee in issuing packet licenses in the prohibited native area, and deprecating the action of the Premier in gratuitously prejudging the question of granting licenses in Newtown wheii the matter in all probability will come before a Court of Law. The "League also passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the Newtown Licensing Committee should refuse to issue licenses unless ordered by the Supreme Court, and promising the Committee every assistance.