[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] QUESTION OF A LICENSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 7, 8 July 1909, Page 3

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] QUESTION OF A LICENSE.

AN IMPORTANT POINT. WESTPORT, 7th July. The Supreme Court this afternoon heard argument in support of an application under the Declaratory Judgments Act, 1908, as to whether the Buller Licensing Committee had jurisdiction to grant a publican's license in 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 new premises came up in September it was adjourned to December, the new electorates coming into force in the meantime, placing the temporary licensed premises in the Bnlfer electorate. At the licensing poll in November Motueka and Buller electorates carried no proposal, being equivalent to continuance. When the application again came before the Motueka Licensing -Committee for a transfer of the license to the new premises the committee granted it. As the temporary premises for which the license was held were at the time the poll was taken in Bulkr electorate, it was argued that a ■vacancy had occurred in that electorate, and three applications have been lodged for the vacancy, the present action in the Supreme Court being brought to definitely ascertain whether or not the

Buller Licensing Committee can grant a license. If the application is granted it means there is an extra license in the Dominion, but counsel for applicants argued that each district should stand by itself. Mr. Justice Cooper reserved judgment.