CONDUCT OF HOTELS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23043, 11 June 1940, Page 5

CONDUCT OF HOTELS

♦ INCREASE IN CITY CONVICTIONS LICENSING COMMITTEE “ DISPLEASED ” An increase in the number of convictions against licensees from seven in the year ended June, 1939, to 23 in the year just ended and from 27 to 145 in the number of convictions against persons found illegally on licensed premises was the subject of comment by the chairman of the Christchurch Licensing Committee (Mr H. A. Young, S.M.) at the annual meeting yesterday. The report of the Inspector of Police (Mr H. Martin) suggested that the reason for the increase was stricter supervision of hotels by the police, but Mr Young said the committee viewed the position with displeasure and hoped that there would be an improvement in the coming year. The committee consisted of Mr Young and Messrs H. H. Wauchop. H. Holland, W. Dobbs, and W. E. Simes. The 23 convictions against licensees in the last year involved 17 hotels, the police report stated. There were 20 convictions against barmen in 13 hotels. Five persons were convicted in “aiding” offences. Prosecutions were pending against two licensees and a barman. Twenty-one hotels were involved in the convictions for “unlawfully on premises.” The police found a general desire on the part of the licensees to bring their premises up to a proper standard and to provide for the greater comfort of the public. The furnishings generally were quite good and in a number of instances really excellent. In commenting on the report, Mr Young said that while the police suggested stricter supervision as the reason for the increased number of convictions it was noticed that in the case of three hotels there had been two convictions within six months, which rendered the licenses liable to forfeiture, presumably by the convicting court. There was no objection to the ren'Avals of licenses, and the following bJ- *fer and new licences were gr>h giyjss ' proud Transfer Jan.. , ivxcKendry to John Alexander Joyce, McKendry’s Hotel. New Licences John Devoy Ballantyne, Cokers; Morgan O’Brien, Embassy; John Alexander Joyce, McKendry’s; Arthur Joseph Newsome, New Albion; Charles Archibald Welsh. New Wellington. George Leslie Comer. Provincial; Herbert Fox. Storey’s Tourist; Charles Robert Williamson, Warner’s.