FORBURY PARK BOOTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18511, 23 March 1922, Page 2

FORBURY PARK BOOTH.

The following correspondence is of ' special interest to the electors of the South Dunedin licensing district and also to the sporting public:— Dear Truth, —According to your Dunedin rep., a Moderate member of the South Dunedin Licensing Bench is wilfully charged with inconsistency, in that he had at some previous meeting voted in favour of a conditional license being granted to the successful tenderer for the Forbury booth. On the first and last occasion Mr Heffernan got a license there were three out of the five duly elected representatives of the people who voted against it, so you can judge for yourself how the license was granted. The Forbury Park Club invited the usual tenders for the disposal of the licensing privileges for the present season, a course they have absolutely no jurisdiction over, as that rests entirely with the Licensing Committee; but, having succeeded on a previous occasion by going cap in hand to the Licensing Committee and praying for a license, which was granted subject to certain conditions, they ave evidently come to the conclusion that they are now in a position to rule the roost and dictate their terms; but they will have learned otherwise by now. And, in conclusion, seeing that I don’t wish to go into any further details at present, your representative will probably find more cranks without looking very far, in addition to the two already named.—Yours, etc., Allan A. Campbell. 44 Young street, St. Hilda, Dunedin. TO THE EtllTOB. Dear Sir,—ln replying to Allan A. Campbell with regard to “Forbury Park booth,” in the first place he is trying to clear himself of his inconsistency in the granting of the license to Mr Heffernan. Allan A. Campbell was voted to the position on the South Dunedin Licensing Bench as one of the three members representing the views of the Moderate Party, and as such he is expected to vote License to all fit and proper persons applying for same. On the first occasion when the Forbury Park Club applied for the license for ilr Hcffernan, the South Dunedin Licensing Committee refused the application. The Forbury Park Club applied for a rehearing, and, after stating its case, the license was granted. Now, sir, the Catering Committee of the Forbury Park Club gave to Mr Heffernan the right to the said license for a term of 12 months—that is, six days on which trotting takes place at Forbury Park—so long as he conducted the booth to the satisfaction of the police and the South Dunedin Licensing Bench, and the Forbury Park Club has received no intimation to the contrary. On the second occasion when the Forbury Park Club applied for the said license, the very same thing happened. The Forbury Park Club applied for the license for Mr Heffernan, and it was again refused and granted to Mr Dawson (who had no authority from the Forbury Park Club to apply). The Forbury Park Club applied again for a rehearing, and it was granted. After the Forbury Park Club stated its case we retired. The first thing the South Dunedin Licensing Committee did was to rescind its former resolution granting the license to Mr Dawson, and the only application before it was that of Mr Heffernan, and it was refused. Now, sir, will Allan A. Campbell explain his position? In tho first place, he voted license to Mr Dawsonand in the second place he voted no license to Mr Heffernan, the. voting being three for no license and two for lioer.se. Allan A. Campbell voted no license with tho two no license members. Now, sir, what does the South Dunedin Moderate Party think of its member, Allan A. Campbell? And I know what that party will do when it has the choosing of its representatives for the next election. Allan A. Campbell says that the Forbury Park Club has no jurisdiction over the disposal of tho licensing’ privileges. Well, sir, if the Forbury Park Club has not, who ha*? The Forbury Park Club is in exactly the same position as a landlord of an hotel, who Ins tho r.ght to choose his own tenant. The statement by Mr Allan A. Campbell “that the horhury Park Club went cap in tuind and playing for a license” is without foundation. The Forbury Park Club applied foi a rehearing, and was granted one, knowing that an injustice had been done to Mr Heffernan, and we were invited to attend by mo chairman of tho South Dunedin Licensing Bench. Is that going ‘cap in hand and praying for a license”? AIK n A. Campbell will know whether he is right, or wrong if he ever places his views again before the South Dunedin Moderate Party; and Allan A. Campbell will know who the “crank” is without looking very far. In conclusion, the Forbury Park Club w»nts to see that only justice is done to Mr Heffernan and the public. Had it not been for Allan A. Campbell’s vote against Mr Heffernan when he should have voted for license instead of no license, the spoits end the public would not have been the sufferers. The Forbury Park Club is applying again for license for Mr Heffernan, and the public will watch with interest the attitude that Allan A Campbell takes on this occasion.—l am, etc., Jack Goldsmid, Chairman Catering Committee F.P.T.C. iDy arrangement]