ASHBURTON HOTELS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17836, 8 October 1929, Page 7

ASHBURTON HOTELS.

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Court of Appeal, consisting of Mr Justice Ilerdman, Mr Justice Adams, Mr Justice MacGregor, and Mr Justice Ostler, was engaged this afternoon in hearing an application by Joseph Scales, of Ashburton, hotelkeeper, for a writ of certiorari against Mr H. A. Young, S.M., and other members of the Mid-Canterbury Licensing Committee removing plaintiff's application for a grant of a publican's license in respect of the Somerset Hotel, Ashburton, from the committee, and quashing its order refusing to hear the same, and alternatively for a writ of mandamus commanding the committee to hear such application. This is a test case, and will affect four other applications affected by the alteration of boundaries. The hearing was adjourned until to-morrow morning.

ARGUMENT FOR PLAINTIFF.

POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. (Ev Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Continuing argument for the plaintiff in the Ashburton licensing case before the Appeal Court, Mr Wright said all questions fell under two headings —was Ashburton district now part of the licensed district, and what were the powers of the licensing committee in such a composite district? lie contended that the Act clearly recognised authority to grant a license. The position in Ashburton was anomalous to the point of absurdity. The recent nalional poll superseded the poll of It>?s, yet according lo the department licenses could not be restored. if that view was accepted Ashburton was -dry” for all time unless the Legislature intervened. | Counsel laid great stress on this argument, pointing out that if it had remained in a “dry” district it would still have the right of restoration.