The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1897. THE PAHIATUA LICENSING DISTRICT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 521, 12 July 1897, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1897. THE PAHIATUA LICENSING DISTRICT.

Ouit Woodvillo contemporary, the Examiner, in its last issue explodes a column of almso at the head of Cr Whitcombe for daring to assert that Pahiatua is the principal town of the electorate, and should be the place of meeting of the Licensing Committee. Our contemporary further blames the Pahiatua pooplo for nominating more than two members | for the Licensing Committee, and | thereby necessitating a poll. In I other words, the peoplo are alleged I to have been guilty of a crirno because they refused to sacrifice their principles for the sake of mere expediency. Surely no more puerile argument has ever been advanced. Let us not waste space over that, but get on to thu rhodomontade directed at Cr Whitcombe, and see what that gentleman has been guilty of. At a meeting of the County j Council prior to the election the Returning Ollicer requested the Council j to pay into his credit tho sum of | I*lls to defray the costs of the Licensing 10lection. The Council, ;

on Cr Whitcombe’s initiative, do--1 dined to pay any sum over until tho election had been held, and the correct amount could be stated and the contributing local bodies could be leviod on for their proportions. When the return of actual expenses was put in it was found to be only THS, and that amount was paid. Tho ultimate result justified Cr Whitcombe’s protest. Now, with regard to the place of meeting, it most bo apparent to all that Palii al.ua is the chief centre of the electorate, and the place where the mootings of the Licensing Committee snould be bold. If for no other reason than that of expense the change is desirable, and we can assure our Woodville contemporary that that change will be made. At every meeting four members from here, iu addition to the Stipendiary

Magistrate, are compelled to travel to Woodville, where there is only one member. That is one cogent reason for altering the place of meeting. Our contemporary mentions the number of licensed houses around Woodville as a reason why the meetings of the Bench should beheld in that centre. But would the licensees of those promises bo-incon-venienced if the meetings were held in Pahiatua ? We think not; for at tho first annual meeting of the Licensing Bench only ono licensee from outside Woodville, beyond the seven from Pahiatua, put in an appearance. So much for that argument. The Electoral Districts Commissioners showed what they con - sidered the relative importance of Woodvillo and Pahiatua by giving the name of the latter centre to the new electorate. Our contemporary can make up its mind to the inevitable, for that future meetings of the Licensing Committee will be held in Pahiatua i# inevitable.