WHEY’S BUSH.

Western Star, Issue 1571, 17 June 1891, Page 3

WHEY’S BUSH.

OUU OWX COKKKSPOXDEN’f ) Some time ago a local option poll ■was taken at Wairio as to whether the residents of the Wairio riding would allow an increase of licenses in their midst or not. A returning officer was appointed, advertisements inserted in the Star, and the public invited to use their privilege as taxpayers. The public did so, and the majority of the voters were against allosving any increase of licenses. So far, so good. Last Wednesday the Licensing Committee met and straightway granted a new license to a new hotel over Centre Hill way, in direct contradiction to the result of the poll. Now, I would like to know if the local option poll was a farce and the taxpayers a lot of gulls'! It looks very much like it when four committeemen (whose knowledge of the Licensing Act must be very meagre) can over-ride the wishes of the community at large. I doubt very much the validity of the Committee’s action, and shall not be surprised if the Prohibitionists take the matter in hand, and teach the Licensing Committee how to fulfil their trust, according to the wishes of the ratepayers whom they simply represent. —Since writing the above note, I notice in the Otago Daily Times that Mr Justice Denniston, in giving judgment on the Sydenham licensing cases, said—“ The only right given to ratepayers was the local option vote, which merely dealt with increase or not of the number of bouses in a district.” The admittance of such a ratepayer’s right by one of the judges of the land is fully sufficient to convince even a bush lawyer of the illegality of the Wairio Licensing Committee’s action in granting an accommodation license to a new hotel at Mararoa Flat. So far as this district is concerned, local option is a distinct failure. The School Committee met on Thursday evening, when it was decided to gravel the walks round the school and the teacher’s residence. The Education Board had intimated its willingness to contribute half the expenditure. A concert and ball was also mooted, and it was agreed to hold one in a week or two, the funds of which will go towards the school funds.