PUBLIC LICENSES

Wairarapa Age, 17 May 1923, Page 3

PUBLIC LICENSES

IN MASTERTON BOROUGH. POLICE TO DECIDE. r , At the Borough Counci Imeeting on luesday night, Cr. Kemp moved ‘that the present resolution regarding licenses upon which the police report, be rescinded, and the following be substituted: “that the license be determined by the report of the police.” Speaking to his motion, Cr Kemp said the council had thrown its responsibility over on the police, yet, when the police submitted a report on any license, they would either say they would recommend or would not and would give no reasons. Cr. Kemp said he becevea the taxi drivers would welcome the proposal as the ones who were going straight would benefit by the fairness of the motion. The transgressors had made it hard for the others and many people were dubious .about using some of the cars, He onsidered the police were not persecutors of anyone making a living.

Cr. Temple seconded and a said the matter had been a sore point in the council for many years. On account of personal friendship, the determining of licenses had not been done to the best interests of the borough. He believed that the good tact and judgment ot the police would eventually clean the town. The council would m future have to .drop any leaning and vote on a common sense basis for the good government of the town.

The Mayor said he would support the motion for the reason that the police were the custodians of law and order. The police were cognisant with the men who applied for licenses and they reported in the interests of the borough. In the cities, the police recommended or not, and that was final.

In reply, Cr. Kemp said that the by-laws would stand over all existing licenses till next April. If the motion was carried no past offences would be considered and everyone would start with a clean sheet. Cr. Watson: It looks like the action of someone wanting to shelve a responsibility. Cr. Russell said he knew some of the taxis would welcome the motion hut the motion covered all kinds of licenses granted by the council and not taxis only. A division resulted as follows:

Ayes: Crs. Temple. Andrews. Kemp. Stanton, Thomas and the Mayor. Noes: Crs. O’Leary, Lamb. Watson, Russell, Jordan, Peterson. On the casting vote of the Mayor, the motion was carried.