RACECOURSE LICENSES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 870, 8 November 1906, Page 21

RACECOURSE LICENSES.

Referring to the trouble that cropped up last week in connection with the granting of the licenses for the racecourse booths at Ellerslie, the New Zealand “Herald” says that for the past 20 to 25 years it has been the custom of the Auckland Racing Club to offer the boo.hs at their meetings for sale by public auction or tender. The publicans who buy these privileges take upon themselves the responsibility of getting the necessary permission of the Licensing Committee to sell, and a special provision is made under the Licensing Act, whereby in . such a case it is competent for a chairman of a licensing committee to issue the necessary permission, provided two of the committee approve of the same. In accordance with the usual practice, the publicans who secured the privileges for the Auckland Racing Club’s Spring Meeting, which commences today, applied to each member of the Parnell Licensing Committee for the necessary approval, but it appears that they w'ere unable to get this, as each member declined to give it unless some other member did so. A meeting of the committee was called for Saturday morning to discuss the matter, but no one at ended, and another meeting was called for yesterday morning, at which there was a full attendance. The committee, it is understood, then signified that they were not prepared to grant the licenses, and gave as their reason that the Auckland Racing Club had no right to offer privileges for the sale of liquor without first conferring with the committee. It was pointed our by counsel in attendance, that this had nothing whatever to do with their clients, and that the Auckland Racing Club had no status in the matter, and that it, as it was contended, the Auckland Racing Club had slighted the committee, this should not prejudice their clients’ applications. The committee, however, decided that they would not grant the application for the first day, for the reasons stated. An adjournment, until two o’clock, was then applied for, in order to secure the attendance of the president and secretary of the club. These gentlemen attended at two o’clock, and after some discussion it was decided to grant the licenses. The press were not admitted to either meeting.