CLUB CHARTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13905, 12 November 1908, Page 5

CLUB CHARTERS.

AN INTERESTING POINT. [BY TEtEGEAPn.OWN COItIIIIiFONDENT.] ! Wellington, Wednesday. As interesting point lias been raised as to whether club charters will be dealt with independently in tho event of reduction being carried, or if they are -to be added to the total of hotels, with whoso licenses the licensing committees havo to deal. The query was referred to an official of the Department of tho Minister for Internal Affairs', when it was found that the point was one of some important*?, which, so far as was known, had not been previously raised. , The Licensing Act is quite clear as to what is to happen when no-licenee is carried, for it is laid down in section 263 that this would mean the suspension of all club charters,;but-, strauge to say, no provision -eems to have been made for dealing with cases such at; that referred to. The carrying of reduction would apparently have no effect upon the number of club charters. *There is no provision for reducing their number in any way beyond suspending them altogether. Club charters are regarded as altogether -.prut from the ordinary hotel licenses, and are dealt- with in quite another way. / The Colonial Secretary has power to suspend them under cer- J tain circumstances, but thai, is about all. J