EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4346, 29 March 1882, Page 3

EAST CHRISTCHURCH.

The adjourned meeting of the Vast Christchurch Licensing Committee took place at noon yesterday in the Orange Hall, Woroester street ; present — Mr Westenra (Chairman), Messrs Pritchard and Parker. lICKNBB TKANSFEBBED. A transfer of the license of the Commercial Hotel from Mr Mackendrick was granted to Mr W. I". Warner. "WHOLESALE LICBKBB. Mr Stringer applied for a wholesale licomo to issue to Messrs B. Wilkin and Co. At the previous meeting of the Committee, the consideration of the application had been deferred pending the obtaining of an opinion from the Attorney- General as to whether the fact of a member of a firm holding an auotioneer's license precluded the .firm from holding a wholesale license. The Chairman said he had received the following letter : — " Wellington, March 25. Sir,— l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant asking the opinion of the Attorney- General as to the issue of wholesale licenses, and the proportionate fee payable therefor, and, in reply, to inform you that the Government would gladly assist the Licensing Committee with a legal opinion on the subject, but that these are questions upon which the Licensing Committee should take the opinion of their own legal adviser. The Committee is a body with judicial functions, and it is a well established rule that judicial functionaries are not entitled to be advised by the Exeoutive Government as to the performance of their du'ies. The Government therefore regret that the opinion cannot bo given. — I have, &c, Thomas Dcok."

Mr Stringer would be Tory happy to advice the Committee.

The Chairman said the Committee were not in a position to giro any remuneraiion for legal uivice. Mr Stringer : " Oh, that is no matter." The Chairman asked if Mr stringer had anything further to urge in support of his application. Mr Stringer had at the previous meeting put the matter beforo the CoramiM-.ee a* clearly as he could. Beading the jection of the Act by the light of common sonse, ho believed the Committee could grant the lie iif->.

The inombers of tho Committee bm fly conferred together, and Tho Chairman said that in the far-« of - -*»«■♦ letter of tho Colonial Secretary, tnc Cummtttee had no option but to refuse tho license. No doubt it was a hardship, but the Committee woro unanimously of opinion that they must read tho Act as prohibiting a license being granted to & firm, a member of which was an auctioneer. Tho license must therefore bo rofused.

This concluded tho business.