Important to Local Bodies.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 39, 10 September 1887, Page 2

Important to Local Bodies.

A late telegram from Christchurch says that there appears likely to be a miscarriage of justice caused by the present state of the law, which requires that the expenses of a witness shall be tendered with his summons to attend Court. Two witnesses were required to give evidence in an application for a transfer at a meeting of the South East Ward Licensing Bench held to-dav, but as their expenses were not tendered they were not forthcoming when called. The Licensing Bench has no funds of its own, as it pays the whole of its receipts to the City Council for the necessary funds, the following reply was received:—“Sir, —ln reference to y o ur interview thismorningre witnes s in a case to come before the licensing Court on Monday next, His Worship after consultation with some of the Councillors, thinks it would be deemed unauthorised expenditure in the face of the recent disallowance by the Auditor-General. His Worship, although anxious to aid the Bench, feels compelled to withhold consent to bearing any of the expenses for the carrying out of the Act —(Signed) F. T. Hoskins. Town Clerk.”