Liquor Charters Sought By Working Men’s Clubs

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 15

Liquor Charters Sought By Working Men’s Clubs

Three applications by working men’s dubs for charters to sell liquor to members were heard at a sitting of the Licensing Control Commission in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch yesterday. The applications were the first for such clubs in Christchurch for nearly half a century. This morning the commission, which comprises Mr A. M. Goulding (chairman) and Mr L. c. Nisbet will visit the premises of the New Brighton Workingmen’s Club at 10 Hawke street and the site of the Woolston club’s proposed premises at 29 Hargood street

Mr R. A. Young and Mr O. J. Cooke are representing the Woolston Work® third applicant Workingmen’s Club. Mr Brighton C c£b’ S appearing for ‘he New The National Council of the Licensed Trade is represented by Mr WV Leicester. ’

The New Brighton Workingmen’s Club was registered under the Friendly Societies’ Act in June, 1951 said Mr Archer. The club occupied spacious premises and maintained a high standard of amenities and comfort for members. It had fixed a limit on membership of 500 persons and this S' J a< i been reached, but a purge bod 1 5*L£ n membership at preswas P°P ular and had a nightly attendance of 55 members. The club was not open on Saturday evenings or on Sundays. ’This is a true social club and within the type considered by the commlsinon for a charter,” Mr Archer said. ■Tt has definitely come to stay and is fulfilling a need in the community ” Members were able at the present time to obtain liquor under a locker system which the commission in the past had viewed as unsatisfactory, he said. If a charter were granted the locker system would be disposed of and all lockers would be removed from the premises. The existing premises were sufficient ft the moment for the supply of liquor, Mr Archer continued. Liquor could be served to members seated at tables and no member would be permitted to drink standing at a bar. The dub had plans for a new wing which Would be built and if a charter were •wanted additional liquor facilities Would be built but there would be no application for permission to sell liquor for consumption off the premises. ‘‘This is the first application for a •barter in respect of a working men’s •lub in Christchurch since the commission was formed,” said Mr Archer, ra granted it will be the first for 45 wears and the third in the city.” f Evidence in support of the application was given by Mr S. E. Dwight, of the club. Inspector W. R. Miller said that in /Ihe police view the premises were not ’•uitable for the sale, consumption or wtorage of liquor. Existing facilities were inadequate but the proposed bar •nd servery would be adequate. Fire ‘protection precautions were satisfaele club had a good reputation, its management and conduct were s Satisfactory and no complaints had ©een received. “Until alterations are •arried out I cannot recommend the i granting of a dub charter to this ■Organisation,” he said. Asked by Mr Archer to amplify his Contention of “inadequacy” witness Said that there was no sewerage system, field tiles being used. An inspector of the Health Department said that the present urinal was adequate should a charter be granted. “The commission will take an opportunity to see these club premises to consider the application,” said the Chairman. Woolston Club Mr Young said that the Woolston Working Men’s Club, which had been incorporated in November, 1953, now

feion *2r»^ i - P . < * f . 1000 ’ P°PUxairon of the district was conserveSSh Btimatt S at 25.0T0. bui• "ite growth was well ahead of recreational and social facilities. There were 50 factories in the ax.ea, and often men who were on shift work had nowhere there ng , the d , a 7’ In Ctoistctoch in? r %^? re °l<«stablished workSfmb^ ip ' lubS ’ but both had such eI ?Svh S In f fh e i Wo °l ston blub had sucn raith in their organisation that £t?s0 a frn^? U m ht 18 aC^ eS °1 land with hv th™™> money^,ubscribed wholly onn en t. se M j as ’ They planned a building, which would take furnish. The money would n?ti? em i b l rs . and Jt was 016 ibM?on?ri rf th j e clu J° to P rovid e facilities e?l,.k U i ds ’. lnd< ? or bowls, billiards, chess, hockey. temus ’ b °wls, football, and i o 13?l^, SC u f '? c il ities / are not completely feL g ’ but tb ?y ?re almost negligible munhi wbldb has gone ahead so much in the last 10 years,” skid Mr Young. “You cannot operate a charter in non-existent premises,” said the chairman.

Mr Young referred to a report of the Commission dated July 28, 1954, which said that charters had been withheld pending the completion of certain conditions. He suggested that the Woolston club s application came under that category. “To erect proper premises considerably more than £lO,OOO must be spent,” Mr Young said. “One cannot claim more than £lO,OOO without the Capital Issues Committee’s consent and the committee has said ‘We will not say yes or no until the Licensing Con- .. Commission has Indicated whether it will grant a charter in respect of the premises which are planned.’ ’’ The chairman: We will hear the application as far as possible. Mr Leicester said that one hotel in the district had spent £16,000 on improvements, and intended to spend a turttier £6OOO on a beer garden.. The Commission would not issue or give its approval to a grant at this stage, said the chairman. “It has never done so for non-existent premises. Mr Young, I think, aims to get the Commission’s view of the position.” “The three licensees wish to be heard if the building is erected, and a charter granted.” said Mr Leicester. Mr Young: There is only one in close proximity to the club and another some distance away at the Heathcote bridge. What is the other? Mr Leicester: The Lancaster Park Hotel. “That is an urban hotel,” said Mr Young. “With respect to my Wellington friepd. with the Ranfurly Shield the Lancaster Park Hotel need fear no inroads from any club.” Mr Young then said he would proci ice evidence to support a claim of inadequacy in hotels in the area. After a short recess Mr Young reported that he and Mr Leicester had conferred and he would not call any evidence about hotels in the district.

Inspector W. R. Miller said the police had no objection to the granting of a charter provided “insufficient urinal facilities” in the proposed plans were improved. Riccarton Application

“The residents of Riccarton have banded together and have formed a c- tL which has now got approximately 900 members,” said Mr Young, in support of the Riccarton Club’s • pplication. “They have an option on land and intend to erect a building which will be a credit to this commu lity.” Sidney George Charles Common, president of the club, said that for some years there had been a feeling of dissatisfaction concerning the lack of facilities for sporting and social events and recreation and refreshment ii the district.

“There is always difficulty in obtaining a drink between 4.30 p.m. and 6 pan. under reasonable conditions, particularly on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays,” he said. “For these rea-j

sons, approximately 10 residents of the district, of whom I was one, conceived th2 idea of forming a club to meet these'" drawbacks. The club started in September, 1954.” Witness said the club had a years’ option on two acres of back land at 66 Wharenui road for £l9OO. Suitable plans for a building with 10,124 square feet of floor space and a rifle range had been prepared. Building and furnishing would cost about £35,000, which would be found among the club r .embers. Off-street car-parking for 200 vehicles was planned.

To Mr Leicester, witness said that no application would be pressed at this moment for the sale of liquor for •nsumption off the premises. However, the club would reserve the right to d • so in the future.

The chairman said that what applied to the Woolston Club about nonexistent premises would also apply to the Riccarton Club.