TRANSFER OF LICENSE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17941, 8 December 1923, Page 16

TRANSFER OF LICENSE.

AN UNUSUAL CASE. APPLICATION GRANTED. (SPECIAL TO "TUB PKES3.") HOKITIKA, December 7. The ordinary quarterly meeting of the "Westland Licensing Committee was held to-day in the Hokitika Courthouse. Present: Messrs W. Meldrum, S.M. (chairman), F. W. Campbell, F. McGregor, C. J. Nightingale, H. JBignell, and F. PI. Kilgour. Several transfers were granted, no objections being raised by the police. Unusual interest was centred in the application of Thomas O'Brien, licensee of the Caledonian Hotel, Greymouth, for a transfer of his license io premises known as Shroder's Private Hotel, Mackay street. A memorial against the transfer had been lodged by twelve persons, these being Henrietta "Wingham, Jane McKechnie, Thomas Henry Butcher, T. B. Dixon, P. J. Murray, C. G. McKechnie, T. Milligan, J. D. AVingham, Oscar Egden, F. J. Johnson, H.. 11. Simeon, and the Rev. T. N. Cuttle. Mr J. W. Hannan appeared for the applicant and Mr W. J. Joyce for the objectors. Mr Hannan said the premises to which it was asked the license be transferred had been completely renovated and were now superior to any other hotel in Grey mouth.

Mr Joyce said the memorial was in compliance with the Act. Very wide discretionary powers were given' to the bench under Section 103 of the Act. There was no objection to the personal character of the applicant. Thomas Evan, law clerk, gave evidence as to the application having been filed on October 10th. Copies of the application had been posted on the doors of the Caledonian and Shroder's Hotels. There was not ample accommodation in the town for travellers, particularly in the summer time. Th-re was a mortgage on Shroder's premises to Holder Brothers.

William Hill, builder, of Greymouth, produced a plan of the alterations to Shroder's premises showing 2b bedrooms. A shop occupied by Mr Thomas under the same roof, which it was thought would be available when the hotel was being altered, could not be utilised. The appointments were satisfactory. The Caledonian was a little over six chains away. To Mr Joyce: Shroder's hotel was in the brick area of the Greymouth borough. The Park hotel within this area had been constructed in wood. Shroder's was an old building and had a brick wall on one side and a space between it and other wooden buildings on another side. He eonsidered the studs were suitable in the three storeys. There were four totels within six chains of Shroder's, which was built 19 years ago. There were no licensed premises in the same block. Catheine Shroder, the present proprietress, said she had been in occupation for nearly 17 years'. If a transfer was granted she and her husband would carry on the business as a licensed hotel. There would ,he 19 bedrooms available for the travelling public. Six of the rooms were double. She had averaged between 20 and 25 boarders, but now there was only one, all the others having been placed elsewhere to allow of the alterations, which were costing £IOOO. If the license, was granted, it was intended to cater specially for tourists and the travelling public. There were several other private boarding-houses in Greymouth. She had agreed to pay £1250 for the license of the Caledonian Hotel. It had come to her knowledge that the Post Office Hotel had been extended. She would take back some of her boarders, but would, of course, seek the trade in which there was most money. William McFarlane, licensee of the Albion Hotel, said there was not sufficient accommodation in Greymouth for the travelling public, and he frequently had to turn people away. Moreover, he knew of people walking up and down the streets all night during race times. For the last two months there had been a great increase in the travelling public, due to the opening of the tunnel. Probably it was .correct for hotelkeepers to say that, there was accommodation for another 100 people at the time of the trots, and he would say that the special train from Canterbury was not availed of greatly because of statements made that there was no accommodation available.

Mary Bradshaw, sister of the applicant, said they had purchased the Club Hotel, Greymouth. She did not know that Mrs "Williamson,>©wner ofthe Caledonian Hotel, intended to put up three shops along the frontage when the hotel.was vacated. About ten or twelve lodgers was the maximum capacity of the place. She intended to take over the Club Hotel next week. Quite a number of people had been refused accommodation at the Caledonian Hotel at the time of the trots. To the Bench : The Caledonian was an old hotel when they took it over 25 years ago. Clive L. Kettle said his father had been agent for the Caledonian Hotel for a number of years. To Mr Joyce: Mrs Bradshaw and O'Brien would not benefit if the license was transferred.

James Douglas Winghnm, licensee of Revington's Hotel, and president of the Greymouth licensed Victuallers' Association, that the transfer of .the license would'decrease the accommodation in the town. He found that in his case he frequently had to refer travellers to other hotels.- The-New Zealand licensed victuallers had a remit Against trafficking in licenses, and this was supported by the .Anglican Svnod. To Mr Hannan: He thought'his attitude in favouring the transfer of licenses from the AVest Coast to other parts of .New Zealand justifiable .and consistent. One night this week he had utilised shakedowns, while on Monday night he had about 20 rooms vacant. The Canterbury Progress League delegates had been sent by him to the Royal Hotel on one occasion. Witness had not asked Mrs Bradshaw not .to proceed with the application* for . a transfer. Charles McKeehnie, licensee of the Empire Hotel, said that the demand for liquor was fully supplied in the neighbourhood of lus hotel. The accommodation of the Empire Hotel was equal to most demands. To Mr Hannan: He had pud £2500 for his hotel and had spent another £ISOO, and if he had refused £6OOO for the hotel it was because he would have to get another place. His objection was lodged because Shrodor's Hotel would seriously aii'eet his trade. Mr Joyce said the apolicant was asingle man, and for all the Bench was to know he would be. the licensee. If Shroder's hotel -was granted a license, accommodation in Greymouth would be reduced. A private hotel had existed over, a long period for the convenience of those objecting to staying in licensed houses, and it was now proposed to oblige these people to go where they did not want to. There were altogether too many hotels on the West Coast, and it was useless to contend that Shroder's was needed to cater for the trade in that particular neighbourhood. Tho alterations would enable its present business as a temperance hotel to be conducted with greater facility. Mr Hannan said six of the names attached to the memorial were from the

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two ' opposition hotels. TWere was a sufficient number of accommodation houses for those not desiring to uss licensed hotels. After an adjournment of 25 minutes, in view of the evidence, the police report, and report of the Health Inspector, it- was decided by a majority vote to grant the Application. The chairman said that it was considered that this was done in the publio interest. The application of Mr Hannan to call the hotel the Hotel Dominion was granted. The nsual fee of £2 2s will first have to be paid to the Borough Council, and the endorsement made on the license, and the hotel should open as a licensed house on Monday.