LICENSING LEGISLATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18285, 22 December 1919, Page 8

LICENSING LEGISLATION.

TO TXIH EDITOR. Sir, —3 Would like to draw public attention to what I consider a most unfair and improper state of affairs wliioh oxißts regal-ding a system which prohibits a man front giving effect to his wishes, Tb make tho mattor cloar, I will fifcato n Gfl<So» On Wednesday a por* son having an absent voter’s permit went to one of tlio Christchurch polling booths and handed in Ids permit. This permit was ono which gave tlio elootor the right to voto for the candidate for the Tomuka electorate nnd also on tho other throe issuoe. Continuance, State Control nnd Prohibition. As a portion of tlio Temukft electorate Was some years ago (owing to tho alteration of boundaries) included in Ashburton, which was at that timo under noIjcenßO, that portion—which was Gera!dino with throo liotols. Itnngltata two and Oruri ono—lost license, although those plaoos always previously voted OontlnUunoo, and as previous to this election, at a timo when tho boundaries Wei’o again being altered, tho districts which included tho hotels numbered previously wero again in the Teniuaa electorate). In oommon fairness ono would oxpoot it would follow that those bix hotels would again liavo lioonso restored mid hnvo tho name privileges as other botch) in' Tho Tomuka electorate, niiul that tlio penalty, of no-lioenso forced upon tho owners in suoli a most unfair way for many years would not bo further prolonged. However, it is evident that tho law docs not hinko provision for ouch a happening, and contrary to tho wishes of the pooplo, ns expressed at tho ballot-box, no-liccnso reigns. Now, tlio man who hnndod in the permit asked if thoro was not another voting paper which entitled him to voto Continuance or Restoration. Ho was tnasuroil that thoro was no such paper for Tomuka, but that thoro -was ono’ for Ashburton. Ono can imngino how the votor folt when ho, wishing to voto Restoration, had not tho opportunity to do so, but if Ashburton was still his electorate, ho would bo given the opportunity. Surely such a position existing in a democratio countrv cnllo for improvement. . Even Prohibitionists admit the unfairness of Buch a state of affairs. —I am, eto., JUSTICE.