EVIDENCE DISPUTED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27896, 18 February 1956, Page 10

EVIDENCE DISPUTED

DENIAL BY HOTEL INTERESTS Mr J. G. Leggat, representing hotel interests, said before the close of the Christchurch sitting of the Licensing Control Commission yesterday that Mr Basil Fitzpatrick in earlier evidence claimed that Rangiora hotelkeepers cut prices when he began business in Rangiora. Mr Fitzpatrick is the main shareholder in a wholesaler’s licence at Rangiora. Mr Leggat said he had been instructed that this evidence was not true. He had also been instructed that Fitzpatrick had not conducted his operations in the spirit in which his licence had been granted. The authorities when granting the licence had in mind the serving of the Rangiora district and dealing in districts in North Canterbury. “His business at once began in Christchurch and in Ashburtion,” Mr Leggat said. “Some restriction to his right to carry on this might reasonably be imposed.” Mr Leggat said that he was instructed that whereas the Ashburton Licensing Trust was open to the same difficulties of competition with wholesalers as hotels, the trust had the right to establish wholesale branches and premises where it chose. “TTie trust has a remedy open to it which is not open to publicans at present,” he said.