A CHANGED POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1928, Page 3

A CHANGED POSITION

ASHBURTON AND HOTEL LI CENS US. OHRI ST’CHURCH, Nov. 22. A Christchurch opinion on Ashburton’s position, in view of the fact that parts of it have been taken into wet districts, after having been dry for many years, is that, when the official announcement is made, it will be as ojien to travellers and agents of liquor (inns as any district in New Zealand. All restrictions of that nature will he removed by last Wednesday’s vote on the license issue. Against this, it is explained, Ashburton cannot have hotels. Licenses for hotels cannot he granted there under the present law; but an opinion is expressed that, as the people have given an emphatic and unequivocal mandate to Parliament against Prohibition much more so than at the previous licensing poll, Parliament must readjust licensing regulations, allowing for more hotel licenses, and, incidentally, allowing for hotels in Ashburton. This opinion—it is not a legal one—is supplemented by a strong opinion that steps will be taken soon in this direction It is based mainly on the large majority which, it is held, cannot he ignored as an indication of the wish of the people. The contention is that the present number of licenses does not conform to the number of people in the Dominion who have shown, by their votes, that they favour Continuance, and that, even for the sake of the increasing tourist traffic, there should be more licensed houses. A CLUB AND ITS BAP. The position of the Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts, which has become prominent, seems to be governed by a decision of Sir John Denniston. When Ashburton went dry, some twenty-five years ago, the club continued to carry on with its bar for about eighteen months. A case was brought against it in the Supreme Court. Sir John Denniston decided that it was in the wrong, but lie did not cancel its charter, merely suspending it, in case, as happened on Wednesday, the Club should be in a wet district once more. Year by year, in hope, the club has paid its charter fee. Legal opinion it has taken is that it can open its bar when the official announcement goes up, but the bar will be open only to members, who are limited in number to 600.