PUBLICANS’ NEW LICENSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 6

PUBLICANS’ NEW LICENSES.

APPLICATIONS ON WEST COAST HOKITIKA, Juno 2,

When the Westland incensmg Committee mot tnis evening to decide whetacr any new licenses were to be granted by the committee, the chairman (Mr J. G. E. Hewitt, b.ivi.) stated that, as a result of their deliberations, the majority of members had decided to adjourn all applications for new; licenses for a month. Ho said that was tantamount to the committee agreeing to granting new licenses if it could be done in a regular way. He would have no objection to them being placed in localities where they were necessary, but as long as he sat on the bench he would be absolutely opposed to the manoeuvring tactics employed to secure the granting of such applications. Ho desired to say that ho and Mr M'Grcgor (a member of the committee) dissented from the decision arrived at. The means adopted in securing these licenses amounted to nothing more than a system of collusion be-* tween the Licensing Committee and the applicants to defeat the clear intention ot the Act, and while he remained upon the bench he would not bo a silent tarty to such proceedings. The law required an. ending and if an alteration was not made the present method adopted in securing licenses would have the effect of bringing licensing committees into disrepute, and so dragging the administration of justice through the mire. If ho failed to give expression to his opinions, he would not be fit to occupy the position of chairman of the committee. In fact if it was not that ho was compelled to sit on the bench, ho would resign, as a protest against the whole proceedings. If the present system of manoeuvring was going to continue, it was a positive disgrace, and ho trusted that it would be soon brought to an end.