OFFICIAL ARROGANCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1906, Page 3

OFFICIAL ARROGANCE.

. i TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is with a considerable amount of surprise that I read your report of the doings o fthe new Licensing Committee. To anyone possessing ordinary sense it would be deemed altogether incredible that men could be found to act in such a peculiar fashion. Ido hot know the members of the Committee personally, or even by sight, so that my opinion is not founded on personal prejudice, but is arrived at after reading your report of the proceedings. Fromf the position the Committee'occupy, I-presume that some electors consider them worthy to be entrusted with important duties, and the officials should justify the people who have placed them in temporary power. How can they do this when one of them said in open Court that " it was only a waste of time for counsel to address the Bench " on the subject that was then under discussion. In other words' they had gone into Court pledged to.a certain course, no matter how strong the argument might be against the attitude they were taking. lam not aware whether any one, or more, of the Committee is a Justice of the Peace, but if he be, what are.his notions "of justice, when he goes into a case with mind made up as -to the decision he will give? No matter how strong the evidence may be against his theory of guilt or innocence. This is a, matter which concerns drinkers and prohibitionists alike, for if prejudice, and not justice, is to determine any matter which comes before a biased tribunal, no fair play or impartial award can ever be expected. It is not impossible that the determination of the Committee may be a correct, one; and if it is it should only have been arrived at after hearing all that could be said on both sides; and it must cause a shock to all when such matters as the Committee had to deal with are disposed of in so cursory a manner. If the Committee has the power it has assumed, it is high time steps were -taken by the people to induce Parliament to restrict such a one-sided display of authority. The late Henry Russel had a song, that expresses the opinion of many on such proceedings as you have reported^— , ■ '' I hate a false pretence and the want of common sense, And arrogance* and fawning and deceit.' 1 . I am, etc., • - " JOHN BROWN." Picton, June 6> .