A LICENSING QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 602, 18 August 1883, Page 22

A LICENSING QUESTION.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin August 15.

At the Supreme Court to-day, Judge Williams granted a mandamus calling upon the Dunedin Central Licensing Committee to reconsider an application for the renewal ef a license to the Dunedin Railway Refreshment Rooms, which had been refused at a past meeting. Mr Haggitt, who was beard in support of the motion, contended that, although Licensing Committees had large discretionary powers with regard to the renewal of licensee, it was perfectly clear that no applications for renewals should be refused without giving the holder of the license an opportunity of being heard in answer to the objections raised. In this ease tb« plaintiff had been deprived of his license on the ground that the licensed premises were not required in the neighborhood, without an opportunity being afforded him of benog heard in reply to the said objection. Moreover, the objection that the premises were not required should be taken by the persons affected and residents in the neighborhood, and not by a Licensing Committee. The Licensing Committee had given him every assistance to bring the matter before the Court, and were anxious to have an opportunity of re-opening it. His Honor said as no statement of defence had been filed, the case went practically by default.