THE LATE LICENSING ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10412, 9 April 1897, Page 5

THE LATE LICENSING ELECTION.

DISCUSSION AT THE OITC COUNCIL, EXPENSES CONSIDERED EXTORTIONATE. At laet night's meeting of the City Council the Fjnance Committee, in their report on the letter received from the Returning Officer, Mr. John King, with reference to the exueusesof the late licensing election (Maroh 24), authorised the advance ot £50, and referred the balance of acQoant—£s9l2a 6d— to the Council, with the recommendation that the matter be brought under the notice of the Government, the Committee being of opinion that these elections could be much more economically carried out by the Counoil's Returning Officer. Mr. Trenwith, in referring to the report, said that while, the Council had authorised the Finance Committee to make payment up to £75, thoy had considered the expenses incurred so absurdly excessive that they did not feel justified in paying more than £50, aud accordingly referred the matter back to the Council, with the recommendation referred to. The whole question should be brought under the notice of the Government —the present mode of conducting the eleotion being a sheer waste of money; while it might also be mentioned that there was no knowing when such procedure might have to be gone over again, and similar expenses iuourred, Mr. Julian asked if the £50 had been paid over,_ and on being informed that it had, said it would to his way of thinking have jeen better had the vouchers been brought before the Council and the money paid out to the individuals. Mr. Farrell said that stiff accounts like :hese should be stiffly dealt with. He moved .o the effect-that the Council having paid £50 n connection with the eleotion consider the imouut sufficient and refuse to recognise any urther demands. He did not see that the Council should pay more than a fair aud legitimate amount; ho had gone through the accounts sent in by the returning officer, and considered them extraordinary, aud would certainly vote against any further amount being paid. He hoped the Council would adopt the motion, thus showing that they did not consider the work adequate to the amount demanded, and would prefer to see the matter tested rather than pay. Mr. Becroft seconded the motion, and supported Mr. Farrell's stand. He would rather light the matter out tooth and nail, than pay so extortionate an amount.

Mr. Warren thought there should have been no occasion for an election at all. With regard to tlie accounts, lie could nol see why money should ba paid tor cleaning dp halls after the election, It was usual in such cases to pay let' the rental of thu hall, after which there woro no further charges. Mr. Glover said he did not wish in any way to detend the returning officer, but pointed out that preparations had evidontly been niatlo for a bie; strangle. If there had been a struggle and the accommodation not adequate, Mr. King would have been in an awkward predicament; therefore ho did not see how that gentleman should be blamed for making the provisions as prescribed. Moreover, if the Council refused to pay the balance they would probably be inflicting a hunlship on some of thoso wlio hud worked at the election ami needed the money. Me Hewson did not see how the Council were to get out of paying the amount, although ho Quite agreed that it was extortionate. For instance there was an item for red ink of 3s 6d, and £1 for petty expenses, evidently put down in a mannerAhut suggested that in making up the accounts they liad said," well say, £1 lor petty expenses,*' and so on.

Mr. Patterson humorously suggested that they should pay the amount at once, and get out of it lightly, before the returning officer discovered that he had forgotten some of the items, Then more seriously ho pointed out that Mr. King was evidently master of the situation, but held that they should oppose the payment, to show that they considered it extortionate, and should make representations to the Government, with a view to bringing about an amendment in the mode of conducting licensing elections. Mr, Kidd considered that the members were not treating the matter as seriously as intended. He said that some years ago they had allowed the passing of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Aot without taking any notice of it, and were now paying the piper for not having gone into the matter at the time, as the elections were carried out under its provisions. Tho only thing Mr. Farrell could do was to convert his motion into a protest, so that in tho event of there being anything illegal or wrong it might act as a check. Surely it was not for such a puny body as the City Council to sit in jink'inen; on the great statesmen and rulers of New Zealand, who in their wisdom had seen fit to mako the prescribed provisions, and carry the Act through Parliament. Mr. King had done his duty as far as he was concerned, and prepared for n big struggle, which had not come about, as the one faction had not seen fit to go into the matter, As regarded the expense he would point out that a county council had paid £110 for a recent licensing election, and another body £'200. To say they would not pay would be simply childish, they should have looked out when the Act was brought into force, and then prevented themselves being placed in a hole. The chairman concurred with Mr, Kidd as regarded the payment. He said they would have to pay and could only put in the motion as a protest. The motion on being put to the meeting was lost; the votius buitiß, ayes: Messrs. Patterson, White, Beoroft, Heskctli, Jamieson, and the mover; noes, Messrs. Hewson, Courtney, Stichbury, Kidd, Cairns, Grey, Julian, Glover, Trenwith, Warren, and tho Acting-Mayor (Mr. Dignan). Messrs. White and Hesketh, on the divi-

sion being taken, simultaneously said that if tlie accounts were paid without some action being taken it would be simply monstrous. The former asked if they were expected to pay the clerks at the election full wages and also provide them with meals and liquid refreshments.

Mr. Jamiesoii said he could not see how they were to bo expeoted to pay £3 for carting hallot-boxes whioh could have been done for leas than half the money. The Chairman said it was his duty to see fair play to both Bides, and pointed out that Mr. King could no doubt explain the amounts. If they went into details they would not find the account as bad as it looked; in fiiot, he could not Bee that it was extraordinarily extortionate, and assured them that he could prove that it was not more than £5 or £10 outside what it should be. Mr. Courtney moved that the matter be referred to the city solicitor for his opinion, and held that payment should be made in accordance with his finding. Mr. Becroft seconded. The motion on being put was lost, as was also a subsequent motion by Mr. Hesketh, seconded by Mr. Farrell, to the effect that the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee to point out what they considered excessive charge?, The adoption of the report of the Finance Committee was then put to the meeting and carried, the chairman in conclusion saying that he concurred in the opinion that there should be some change in the mode of election.