LICENSING ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 6

LICENSING ISSUE

Invercargill CounterPetition (By Telegraph.—Press INVERCARGILL, February 15. Interest in the licensing position in Invercargill, kept well alive by the approach of the time for the election of a licensing committee, has been quickened by the circulation of a counter-petition on the municipal control issue. Among other things, this petition asks that the constitutional rights of the people as voted upon by more than three-fifths of the electors be given effect under the principles of democratic government. “All we ask is that the law as voted upon, and the proposal carried, be allowed to take its course,” stated a member of the Restoration League committee today. “We put bur petition into circulation a few days ago and we already have the signatures of several hundred Invercargill citizens who ask that justice be done.” According to I lie Licensing Act the licensing' committee to function in June should bo elected no later than March, but as yet the returning officer for Invercargill has had no intimation from the Governor-General about the date of its election. Moreover, the returning officer is obliged to notify the electors no later than the third Monday in February of that date. The time for that notification expires next Monday. The counter-petitioners also ask that the election of the licensing committee be held before the first annual meeting on June 1. 1944, at which date alone licences can be granted: if no licences are granted at that meeting no licences can be granted by law till June. 194t>.