THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1032, 4 May 1894, Page 6

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS.

« . At the meeting of the Clutha County Council on Friday a letter was received from Mr R. Grieor, returning officer stating that he had forwarded to the Government the resolution passed at last meeting of the council. The Government, however, refused to have anything to do with tho matter ; and he, the returning officer, would be glad if the council would instruct him as to the best means towards a final settlement. He enclosed a tabulated statement of the accounts. Mr Dallas considered the election had cost far more than it ought to have cost. He had little doubt the council would have to pay the amounts, but was, however, not in favour of paying the vouchers until he knew more about it, and would suggest that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to consider, and confer with the other local bodies, and perhaps it might be as well to agree to have a case stated to the judge. He had no doubt at all that if the county paid the council could recover from the other bodies Mr Johnston thought the accounts should be divided to find what proportion was payable by the other parts of the district. If the proportion payable by the local bodies were ascertained, and the different local bodies approached in a fair way and asked to pay their percentage, he had no doubt they would do so. Mr Gumming agreed with . Mr Johnston's suggestions. Mr Dallas said the council had |not power to do what was suggested. Mr Knowles thought the county was the responsible party, and that they would eventually have to pay. Mr Robertson said that it was most unfair that the council should have to paythe whole of this sum when there were so, many people actually outside the county altogether who had voted iii connection 1 with the matter.

Mr Mitchell said there waa little doubt ' that the council, having been appointed * the local authority, would have to pay in ' the first instance, however the money was raised afterwards. Mr Dallas's intention was for the committee to first ascertain whether the the other local bodies would contribute, seeing a no-liconse vote had been carried, : and if not then agree to state a case to the* judge of the Supreme Court. Mr Robertson thought this would all end in smoke. As far as he understood the boroughs, their intention was to resist to the last. TMey said the county had taken away their licenses, and they would not contribute towards the cost of the election. A councillor said the local bodies would not even agree to refer the matter to the judge of the Supreme Court. They would simply do nothing, Mr Dallas moved " That the matter be referred to the Finance Committee and and the mover, with power to a,ct." He might mention that there were some of the accounts to which objection might be taken. Mr Wallace seconded the motion, which was carried. The statement of accounts in connection with the election was then read over. The total was L 156 Is 6d. There were 34 booths in the electorate, the average cost per booth being L 4 lis 9d.

At the meeting of the Bruce County Council on Tuesday Mr R. S. Hawkins, returning officer at the recent licensing election and local option poll in the district, forwardad an account for LBS lis for expenses incurred in connection with the same. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Smith — " That the account be paid and that the chairman write to the Government protesting in the very strongest terms against the unfairness of the present system of compelling public bodies to pay such large expenses without having a say in the matter, and stating that the council felt that their own officers could do the work quite aa satisfactorily for less than one-half the. cost." The clerk was also instructed to recover the proportion of expenses due from each of the local bodies within the Bruce licensing district. There were 20 boths so that the average cost per booth is L 4 5s 6d.

The Ashburton bill amounted to LBl 16s 6d, or an average of L 5 a booth. Rangitata LIBO 4s 3d, or L 8 a booth. The bill for Dnnedin City amounted to L2ll 8s 2d, LBB 10s of which was for salaries, and L 122 18s 2d for advertising, printing, hire of halls and incidentals. Riccarton amounted to L 75 17s 4d, or L 6 6s 6d per booth ; Selwyn L6O lis 3d or L3Os 7d a booth ; Kaiapoi, L 65 10s 7d ; Wellington, Ll5O ; Masterton, L 164. Considering that iv Bruce there was no election of committee, the account is in proportion higher than the Olutha one. It is understood that no further steps will be taken in the matter of the petition to upset the Olutha local option poll.