INCOMPLETE LEGISLATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6396, 19 December 1907, Page 5

INCOMPLETE LEGISLATION

LOCAL OPTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. ■By Telegraph— Press Association— Conyright SYDNEY, December 18. At tho Local Option Court, the President announced that a writ of prohibition restraining further proceedings in connection with the classification of licensed promises had been granted. 'Tho points at issue were those recently raised. The situation at present is that the Court cannot tako further action until tho first day of the nest term, unless upon application to the Dull Court. Tho Crown can obtain stay; of proceedings. It is understood, however, that the Government intends to bring down a declaratory measure before tho session closes, making clear the intention of the Legislature with regard to the Local Option Provisions Act,

The points referred to were raised when the Court first mot to consider the question of reduction of licenses, in accordance with the decision of the electors at tho poll. Counsel 'for a leading brewery firm argued that tho reduction vote had not been carried according to tho wording of the Act, and that if carried it had not been gazetted as tho Act required. It was also urged that, although tho Act provided that in tho event of no-liconse being carried, the rotes cast for no-licenso should be added to those in favour of reduction, it failed to make clear or state in any way what should be done when this addition was made. Tho president of tho Court decided that the vote for reduction had been carried, and that the .proceedings were in proper order.