THE LICENSING LAW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 18

THE LICENSING LAW.

Wellington, July 29

An influential conference, comprising wine merchants, brewers, and publicans, concluded - their sittings here to-day. Delegates and representatives from all parts of New Zealand were preseut. The administration of the Licensing Act by several of the committees, especially in Sydenham and Wanganui, was denounced as arbitrary ; and the conference considered that those committees had acted illegally in refusing licenses in a wholesale manner. Resolutions were adopted for defensive purposes in future, both as to organisation and financially. Other important businebs, which has not been disclosed, was transacted. The Executive Council for the year comprise — Messrs M. Kennedy, T. G M'Carthy. J. Jack, J. K. Hamilton, T. W. Young, and Wilson. Tisiauu, July 29. The Resident Magistrate gave judgment thia morning in the throe Sunday trading cases. In two, wherein liquor was sold by unauthorised persons, the informations were dismissed. Iv the third, where the barman asked if the man was a traveller, and got a reply "Yes," his Worship convicted and fined him 20s, which was increased to L 5 to enable the defendant to appeal. His Worship said a simple inquiry as to whether the man was a traveller was not enough, or the anti-Sunday trading law was a farce. The following telegraphic correspondence explains itself : — Chairman Roslyn Licensing Committee. Macdonald, solicitor, Dunedin, states he is bringing action against your committee, as done at Sydwnham, and wants publichouses to remain open till cases decided. Have your committee any objection ? A similar permission was given at Sydenham, the committee stating they had no objection. Reply, collect, as soon as possible. A. Hume, Commissioner of Police, Wellington. A. Hume, Esq., Commissioner of Police, Wellington. Your telegram received. Roslyn committee decline to allow publichouses to re-open, one house already turned into a butcher's shop ; the others already closed. No similarity between cases at Roslyn and Sydenham. Alex. C. Beug, Chairman Roslyn Committee. Mr Douglas Macdonald, bolicitor, Dunedin. Roslyn Publichouses — Licensing bench decline to allow houses to open pending actions. No similarity between cases of Roslyn and Sydenham A. Hlme, Commissioner of Police. Mr A. Hume, Commissioner of Police. The chairmiu of the Roslyn licensing district has misled you. The action is for the same tlii»->-as the one at Sydenham— namely, to quash the proceedings of the committee on the ground that

they are pledged prohibitionists and prejudiced. The only difference is that the Roslyn houses have been shut since end of June and the Sydenham ones have been open.

D. Douglas Macdonald, Solictor.