LICENSING.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5165, 11 June 1891, Page 4

LICENSING.

At tho meeting of the Masterton Licensing [ Committee, after bearing the first application, I tho committee retired for a few minutes and returned with the following written docision : — " We have not yet decided that a license for tho Star Hotel ia unnecessary, and therefore grant the license for this yeur, but our present impression ia tbat it ib unnecessary. Our minds aro open and we shall be prepared as it will lie our duty m 1892 to consider fully any ovideuco which may he adduced to us thon to chow that the license is necesearv- Wo do not m any way prejudice the matter now, but we inlimsto that if tha circumslsucoa m 1892 nro not materially altered from those now existing our preoent view is that strong evidence will be required m 1892 to convince us that this hotel ia necessary " The chairman mentioned that one member dissented from the decision, but the reßt of the committee were unanimous. .Renewals asked for were granted, and tho chairman slid the written deeiai'ns applied to each case. Mr Po'wnall, solicitor on behalf of Mr Phillips, a licensee, objected to the written decision, insisting that it was arbitrary and unfair to threaten to close overy hotel m twelve months. It bore evidence of having been prepared before the meeting ; a press copy had been taken off it ; they had come to tho meeting prejudged ; they had given a prepared decision without hearing tl"- other aide, and he considered they wero noi npotent to give such ado ion. Mr Phillip -'"o enterotl a vigorous prol«t.