THE LICENSING QUESTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 135, 11 June 1906, Page 2

THE LICENSING QUESTION.

' PUBLIC MEETING AT PICTON (Oni- Own Correspondent.) A well-attended public meeting was held in the Foresters' Hall, Picton, yesterday (Sunday). Mr Riddell was voted to the cfeair, and called upon the . convener (Mr R. D. Martin) to address the meeting. ... Mr Martin confessed that he wat ' not an experienced public orator, but he w.as impelled by feelirigs of justice, fairness, and honesty to express indignation at the action of the Licensing j Committee in condemning so many of the hotels, and putting the proprietor* to a very great expense, when in all probability, if the reform Licensing Committee could work it, prohibition would be carried at the next general election. He and a great many others who had worked hard to-elect the Reform Committee were indignant at their high-handed action, and at an important meeting of citizens had appointed a deputation to wait upon the Committee to ask them to re-consider their decision. He saw Mr Shaw, and asked him when it would be convenient for the deputation to meet the Committee. Mr Shaw said he would let them know, but since then Mr Shaw had stated that the deputation was of "no standing." Another thing waib that one member of the Licensing Committee had "not" viewed the premises which were condemned, butvoted with Mr Shaw, like the Maori member who did not hear what they Avore voting for, nor whose interests it affected, but "voted for Dick Seddon all the time." Mr Shaw had said the Reform Committee were placed in that position by a majority of the electors, .and quoted the Evening Post which had supported the action of other committees who had gone "and done like,\rVs§u to them. "There,"-the speaker said, "Mr Shaw was wrong. The committee represented only a minority of the electors on the roll, most ol whom had voted honestly for reform, but not for such high-handed action as the committee had instituted. At regarded the Evening Post, that organ had a knack of clapping people on the back and then climbing down Avhen they found themselves in the wrong.'' The Reform Committee reminded him of the Daniel-come-to-judgment attitude of the newly - appointed J.P. down South who sat for the first time on a drunk and condemned him to fourteen days' imprisonment and immediately went out and telegraphed to the Premier. The speaker drew attention to the position of the owners of the condemned houses, as the insurance companies had withdrawn their liability. He would ask the meet ing to appoint a delegate to wait, with others, upon the committee, and after a meeting at Ren wick and a monster one in Blenheim the committee might then climb down too.

Mr Jensen then proposed the following resolution:—"That this meeting of citizens of Picton is of opinion that the Reform Party of the Licensing Committee have exceeded the wishes of the people in the drastic re-building scheme proposed and that it enters its protest against the measures being carried, and requests the Committee to rescind their resolution." jj Mr IDricson seconded the resolution J which was carried. 1 Mr Jensen was appointed a delegatqf to attend with delegates from Blen-a heim, Remvick, and other centres upon| the Committee. Several ladies were ayl the meeting. ?|