FORBURY PARK BOOTH.

Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 5

FORBURY PARK BOOTH.

The following correspondence is of special interest to the electors of the South Dunedin licensing district and also to the sporting public: Dear ' Truth,’—According to your Dunedin rop. a Moderate member of the South Dunedin Licensing Bench is wilfully charged with inconsistency, in that he had at some previous meeting voted in favor of a conditional license being granted to the successful tenderer for the Forbury booth. On the tirst and last occasion Mr Helfornan got a license there were three out of the five duly elected representatives of the people who voted against it, so you can judge for yourself how the license was granted. The Forbury Park Glub invited the usual tenders for the disposal of the licensing privileges for the present season, a course they have absolutely no jurisdiction over, as that rests entirely with the Licensing Committee; but having succeeded on a previous occasion by going cap in hand to the Licensing Committee and praying for a license, which was granted subject to certain conditions, they have evidently come to the conclusion that they are now in a position to rule the roost and dictate their terns; but they will have learned otherwise by now. And in conclusion, seeing that I don’t wish to go into any further details at present, your representative will probably find more cranks without looking very far, in addition to the two already named.—Yours, etc., Ann ax A. Campbell. 44 Young street, St. Kilda, Dunedin,

TO THE EDITOR ‘EVENING STAR.’

Dear Sir,—ln replying to Allan A. Campbell re “Forbury Park booth,” in the first place ho is trying to clear himself of his inconsistency in the granting of the license to Mr Hefi'ernan. Allan A. Campbell was voted to the position on the South Dunedin Licensing Bench as one of the three members representing the views of the Moderate Party, and as such he is expected to vote License to all fit and proper persons applying for same. On the first occasion when the Forbury Park Club applied for the license for Mr Hollernan the South Dunedin Licensing Committee refused the application. The Forbary Park Club applied for a rehearing, and after stating its case the license was granted. Now, sir, the Catering Committee of the Forbury Park Club gave,, to Mr Eeffernan the right to the said license lor a term of twelve months—that is, six days on which trotting takes place at Forbury Park—so long as he conducted) the booth to the satisfaction of the police and the South Dunedin Licensing Bench, and the Forbury Park Club has received no intimation to the contrary. On the second occasion when the .Forbury Park Club applied for the said license the very same thing happened. The Forbury Park Club applied for the license for Mr Heffernan, and it was again refused and granted' to Mr Dawson (who had no authority from the Forbury Park Club to apply). The Forbury Park Club applied again lor a reheiring, and it was granted. After the Forbury Park Club staled its case we retired. The first thing the South Dunedin Licensing Committee did was to rescind its former resolution granting the license to Mr Dawson, and the only application before it was that of Mr HelTcrnan, and it was refused. Now, air, will Allan A. Campbell explain his position? In the first place ho voted license to Mr Dawson, and in the second place he voted no license to Mr HofTornan, the voting being three for no license and two for license. Allan A. Campbell voted no license with the two no license members. Now, sir, what does the South Dunedin Moderate Party think of its member, Allan A. Campbell? And I know what that party will do when it has the choosing of fte representatives for the next election. Allan A. Campbell says that the Forbury Park Club has no jurisdiction over the disposal of the licensing privileges. Well, sir, if the Forbury Park Club has not, who has? The Forbury Park Club is in exactly the same position as a landlord of an hotel who has the right to choose a own tenant. As for Allan A. Campto say “ that the Forbury Park Club went <»P in hand and praying for a license/’ he is stating an absolute falsehood. The Forbury Park Club applied for a rehearing, and was granted one, knowing that an injustice had been done to Mr Heffcamn, and we were invited! to attend by the chairman of the South Dunedin Licensing Bench la that going “cap in had' and praying for a license?” Allan A- Campbell will know whether he is right or wrong if he ever places his views again before the South Dunedin Moderate Partyj and) Allan A. .Campbell will know who the “ crank " is without looking very far. In conclusion, the, Forbury Park Club wants to see that only justice is done to Mr HefEernan and the public. Hod) it not been for Allan A. Campbell’s vote against Mr Hoffeman when he should have voted for license instead of no license, thet>«porta and the public would not have been the sufferers. The Forbury Park Club ia applying again for the license for Mr Heffernan, and the public will watch with Interest the attitude that Allan A. Campbell takes on this occasion,—l am, etc.,

Jack (loldsmid, Chairman Catering Committee F.P.T.O. —[By arrangement.]