THE LICENCING LAW.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 2

THE LICENCING LAW.

~; ; / 'AN; IMPORTANT POINT. > ':)' ! ':■ (By Telegraph.—Presi Woolatfon.)". . :*: s ■•■''''. v ."."■-<■ M : : Westpori,'July 7.'!" **The Supreme' .Court ■, this afternoon , heard argument, in- support' of an application'under the Declaratory Judgments -'Act);. l?oS,''as .to whether; the Buller Licensing Committee had" .jurisdiction tograht a publican'^'license iii'. the'Buller district in place, of one removed into the Motueka electorate. The St: Helens Hotel,' situated in Motueka,electorate,- was destroyed by fire, and a license was granted for temporary premises until a new'building had been erected "on a'site about a mile' away. When the application for removal to the 1 new premises camo up'in: September it was adjourned, to December, the new elector-; .ates coming into force in the meantime, plac-' irigthe- temporary "licensed,premises' in the Buller'cleotorate.V At'the' licensing' poll "iri; Noycmßef; Motuoka and' 'Buller electorates, carried no'- proposal,, being eqiiivalent.;io Continuance. .'When the application again came before the Motueka Licensing Committee for a transfer of the license ; to the'new premises' tho committee' granted it. '.As the temporary premises for which' the license -was held, was' at the'time; tho'.poll wa3 -taken'in Bullei electorate; it was argued that a vacancy had occurred in thai electorate, and three applications have for. the vacancy,, the present action in the Supreme. Court beings broiiKhtto definitely ascertain whether or not the Buller Licensing Committee can grant a' license.■■■■lf tho' : application : is 'granted it means there is an extra license in the! Do-, minion, but counsel for applicants argued that-each district should stand by itself: Mr.; Justice Cooper reserved judgment'. ';.: :