LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 135, 7 June 1904, Page 2

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

■ AUCKLAND CITY. The annual meeting of the Licensing Committee for the district of the City of Auckland was held at the S.M. Court today. Mr. E. C. Blomfield, S-M., presided, and there were also present: Messrs. P. E. Cheal, J. J. Craig, M. Casey, Graves Aickin, and Arthur Rosser. TENURE. Before the business of the committee was opened the chairman intimated that at the last annual meeting of the committee it was decided the next year to consider the question of the terms under which licensees held their tenureSince that meeting the matter nad had very careful consideration, and the com-1 mittee had now considered that it was j within its duty in seeing that persons applying for licenses had such a tenure as would enable them to carry on the ' licenses granted them fairly, honestly, and in conformity with the law without inducements to commit breaches of the Act, which in the committee's opinion resulted from weekly and monthly tenancies and burdensome terms. The committee did not propose to demand the production of or to interfere with existing licenses. Those who held licenses were, subject to good conduct and to the provisions of the Act, entitled to their renewal until the next local option poll. The committee considered that in the interests of the public in dealing with new matter, and as a matter of right and public duty, they should consider all facts that night reasonably affect a proposed licensee in the conduct of his license. They, therefore, proposed in future, in dealing with applications for temporary and permanent transfers, and the issue of new licenses, to satisfy themselves that, applicant was possessed, or was to be possessed, of such terms and conditions of lease as were not incompatible with the license, or would militate against the public interest. They would, therefore, in future require evidence of the terms under which the new man was taking over a license before granting a transfer. This would not apply to temporary transfers arising through unforeseen circumstances, made merely to protect the existing licenses. TRANSFERS. / The following transfers of licenses were granted:—Alexandra Hotel, Chas. Bernhardt to Jules Vollemaere (Mr O. Nicholson); Park, Jas. Ormond to Joseph Robinson, i|tr J. R. Reed)- Al-; bert, Arthur Bach to Joseph Fischer (Mr J. R, Reed). . . , CENTRAL HOTEL. An application was received for the transfer of the license of the Central Hotel from Ernest Gerard (Official Assignee in the estate of Jas. Rolleston) to John Win. Speers. The police report, which was otherwise favourable, stated that the kitchen was imperfectly ventilated. Mr R. MeVeagh, who appeared in support of the application, submitted that the ventilation was sufficient, and further that it was not within the functions of the licensee to determine the question, which came within the scope of the Public Health Act. Mr Cheal: Do you say that the committee can j object to a man being "boisoneA in the bar and not in the kitchen/? Mr The powers of the committee are defined under the Act, and the Legislature has not given power to them to deal with such a matter. Mr Blomfield (chairman) thought that the committee had power to deal with the matter as referring to the general construction of the house. Further consideration of the matter was adjourned until the afternoon. QUEEN'S HEAD. An application was received for the transfer of the license of the Queen's Head Hotel, Upper Queen-st., from Geo. Jordan to John Sullivan, Mr MeVeagh appearing in support. The police report was favourable, but Mr W. Richardson objected to the transfer and renewal of the license on the ground that the hotel was improperly conducted, and was the resort of women of loose character. Mr MeVeagh pointed out that the present licensee had only been in the house for three weeks. The Chairman pointed out that the hotelkeeper had the right, under the Licensing Act, to have notice of objection. The objector should have used the powers conferred on him by the Act, and have given notice. If every case were adjourned it was a question whether all licenses could not be blocked. Mr Richardson said that he anticipated that there-would be some objection on the part Of the police.—Consideration of the application was deferred. . ■ [ ■ - SWAN HOTEL. Sub-Inspector Black reported on the Swan Hotel that he had visited the house last month, aud that tha oondi-

tion of the hotel vu not satisfactory. He stated to the committee that he had visited the hotel again on Saturday last,! and had found-, that it was beinf reno- ] vate_ If the whole of the work were j carried out as begun the police would have no objection to raise. The license was renewed, the police to report on the conduct of the hotel to next quarterly meeting. CRITERION HOTEL.' On the application to renew the license of the Criterion Hotel, the police" report was to the effect that there were indications of after-hour trading. Sergt. Hansen and Constable Montgomery reported tliait on the night of April 19 they had seen lights in the bar and had heard voices. When they entered they found several men in the bar, the landlady stating that they were boarders. Constable Montgomery stated that he had watched the house, and later had seen three men leaving it. Wine License.—The wine license held by Arthur Trevethick, Karangahaperoad, was renewed. WHOLESALE LICENSES. Wholesale licenses were renewed as follow: Campbell, Ehrenfried and Co., Albert Cuff (Cook~e and Co.), Hancock and Co., Heather, Roberton and Co., L. D. Nathan and Co., Seegner, Langguth and Co., Walker and Co., Hipkins and Coutts, A. H. Nathan, J. Reid and Co., John Sebischka, and D. Arkell. PACKET LICENSES. racket licenses were issued to the steamers Westralia and ijealandia. On the matter of the issue *of licenses to coastal packets the chairman said that the police bad presented two reports on the matter of the conduct of these licenses. He did not think the past procedure of licenses being issued by the chairman and two members had been altogether satisfactory, and he would not be prepared to consider any applications | unless submitted for the consideration j of the Whole committee. The commit-1 tee should, he thought, consider whether licenses should bs granted these small boats plying within restricted limits. The police reports reflected on the way these licenses were carried on, and he would like the committee to consider whether th>: licenses were necessary. There were no applications before the committee, the licenses being applied for at other districts, and the matter of taking evidence on the question was adjourned until the McGregor and Coastal Coy. could •be represented. The chairman stating that the committee could take no action, but other committees might be influenced by the character of the evidence tendered. (Proceeding.) SOUTHERN COMMITTEES. NAPIER, this day. The Licensing Committee refused an application for eleven o'clock licenses, the police reporting that the ten o'clock system was working very well. The police reported unfavourably of the licensees of the Victoria and Central Hotels, and the committee adjourned their applications for a week to enable the owners to find a solution of difficulty. An application re the Taradale Hotel recently destroyed by fire was adjourned for three months to enable the owners to rebuild, a license foi 5 a temporary bar being granted. PALMERSTON NORTH, Monday. At a meeting of the Licensing Committee to-day the police report on five hotels was unfavourable, complaints being madeNof overcrowding and bad man-! agement. The report is being considered this afternoon. WELLINGTON, Monday. The City Licensing Committee met today. The police reported favourably on most of the applications for renewals of licenses, but considered some of the old wooden buildings a source of danger in case of fire. In two or three cases renewals were held over for a week to consider matters of minor importance. Ten o'clock closing was decided on, an application from the Licensed Victuallers' Association for leave to close hotels at eleven being refused. DUNEDIN, Monday. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Licensing Committee to-day all applications for extension beyond ten o'clock were refused. The Committee postponed till June 27 the consideration of the licenses of the Terminus, Wain's, Provincial, Douglas, Gladstone, Farmers'' Arms, City, and Shamrock Hotels generally in regard to alterations on sanitary grounds and fire escape appliances. The Caledonian Hotel license was granted with a caution. The Law Courts Hotel and Queen's Hotel licenses were granted with intimation that it should be a man instead of a woman as licensees in each case. REPORTED RESIGNATION OF BRUCE COMMITTEE. DUNEDIN, Monday. It is understood that the Bruce Licensing Committee have sent in their resignations. — THAMES. (By Telegraph.—Own Corespondent.) THAMES, Monday. The anneal meeting of the Thames Licensing Committee was held to-day, Mr Bush, R.M.. presiding over a full attendance of the committee. The police reports, with one exception, were favourable, but in three instances it was stated that the buildings were old, and required replacing. Licenses were renewed in every case except that of the Governor Bowen Hotel, Jas. S. Shanks, licensee, in which case the police report was unfavourable. The application was accordingly adjourned for . three months. The application of Michael Breen for a license for a building at the junction of the Opitbnui-Whanga-poua road was granted, applicant withdrawing an application for the renewal of the license of the Commercial Hotel at Opltonui. Packet licenses were issued for the steamers Wakatere, Terranora, Paeroa, and Falcon. An application for permission to change the name of the Theatre Royal Hotel, Thames, to Royal Hotel, was granted.