Sitting Of Motor Spirits Licensing Authority

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 10

Sitting Of Motor Spirits Licensing Authority

Decision was reserved in four of the applications heard by the Motor Spirits Licensing Authority on the first day of its sitting on Monday. Another application was adjourned and another withdrawn. The Authority comprised Mr R. W. Edgley, of Christchurch (chairman). Mr H. L. Wise, of Wellington, and Mr J. Floyd, of Wellington, deputy member. Mr A. C. Perry congratulated Mr Edgley, who was presiding for the first time at a sitting. Application Adjourned An application by J. D Ashby arid G. F. Ashby, cousins, on behalf of a company to be formed. Ashby’s Garage. Ltd., for a licence tn sell petrol from two pumps at proposed premises in Wairakei road, Christchurch, was adjourned sine die. Mr J. G. Hutchison, for the applicants, said the proposed service station and garage would not affect the nearest service station, one and a half miles away. “They have all the necessary knowledge and equipment to give a full service.” said Mr Hutchison. Objections were made by Claude James Fitzgibbon (Mr A. C. Perry). Airport Services, Ltd. (Mr B. S. McLaughlin'. Greer Bros. (Mr G. S. Brockett) and the Retail Motor Trade Association (Mr W J. Waddle). Mr Perry submitted that the hearing should be adjourned as another application in the same area had been tiled but was too late for the present sitting of the Authority. After allowing Mr Hutchison to make his submissions, the Authority adjourned the hearing. Kaikoura Petrol Two applications were heard in conjunction. One was made by J. H. Graham (Mr Perry)_ to move two pumps from - Kaikoura township to a garage and service station to be built., one and a-half miles south of Kaikoura on the main highway. The other was made by Kaikoura Caves, Ltd. (Mr R. A. Young) for a licence to sell petrol from two pumps, *o be installed at a restaurant and proposed service station and garage, one and a-half miles south of Kaikoura township on the main highway. Counsel for J. H. Graham and Kaikoura Caves. Ltd. opposed each other's applications. Mr Edgley did not sit with the authority in the hearing of these two applications as he had appeared as counsel for one of the applicants at a previous hearing. Mr Perry submitted that there were only two resellers who would be affected by the move and only one of these was making an objection. “One would think that the resellers in Kaikoura would be glad to see Graham go," said Mr Perry. The Kaikoura Caves site was not as good as that of

his client, he said. It was also submitted that Kaikoura Caves, Ltd., by wanting more pumps would "create opposition” while Graham was already in opposition and would not increase it. Mr Young said that Kaikoura Caves. Ltd., had a capital of £lB.BOO of which £15.800 was paid up. The company had spent £13.000 on amenities in its sevenacre block. “A garage will be built whether a licence is granted or not. The company has a restaurant that in five months has provided more than 8000 meals, and has a general store. The company will build motels and a swimming pool. It already has a camping ground and the limestone caves are also an attraction,” said Mr Young. ‘‘The services provided.are in the public interest, particularly to travellers, who should have the right to have their vehicles serviced.” Mr Young said he agreed with Mr Perry’s submission that a service would be required when a WellingtonPicton rail-car ferry was started to bring a substantial increase in traffic on the road. Objections Objections to both applications were made by Bradshaw Bros., Ford Bros.. John Kennedy. Ltd., Gordon Fisher, Ltd., W. J. Wells of Oaro, and L. Pugh of Clar. ence Bridge Store, all of whom vzere represented by Mr G. S. Brockett. Mr W. J. Waddle opposed both appli. cations on behalf of the Retail Motor Trade Association. J. L. Thornton an<j D. Burgess of Hunda'ee (also Mr Brockett) objected to the application of Kaikoura Caves, Ltd., only. Mr Brockett said that although Kaikoura was busy in summer, there was no demand for further retail sell, ing points in the area. Mr Waddle said the resellers in Kaikoura could not afford to have custom intercepted on the main route. Mr Young, in his final submissions, said the public should not be inconvenienced by going to Kaikoura when they could obtain petrol on the main highway. The resellers in Kaikoura would not get the trade of passing motorists as the latter would use the main highway anyway, said Mr Perry. He also submitted that there were “the gravest of doubts about the financial position” of Kaikoura Caves. Ltd., with regard to its ability to build a garage. Balcaim Pump Decision was reserved on an application by Archibald Edward Russell Black (Mr H. W. Hunter) for a licence to sell motor spirits at a garage at Balcairn. Mr Hunter submitted that Black opened his garage six days a week and was there much of the day. He had been in the area for four years and had been in a gar-

age at Amberley for 16 years. “Another pump in the area would be a nuisance; it would do no good, would endanger the livelihood of the two objectors, and would not be in the public interest,” said Mr Perry who appeared for N. J. Rollinson and Raymond Thomas Stevenson, the objectors. Black agreed "with reluctance” to the suggestion of Mr Waddle (representing the Retail Motor Trade Association). that he should have a screened pump. Unopposed Decision was reesrved on an unopposed application by Mervyn Ernest Reid for a licence to sell petrol from one pump at a garage and service station on the corner of Boundary road and the Oxford-Rangiora highway. Bennetts. Mr Hunter, for Reid, said that there was no pump within a radius of five miles from the garage and that a service was needed for motorists going to Oxford along Tram road. Reid told Mr Waddle (representing the Retail Motor Trade Association), he was “not happy about a screened pump.” Withdrawn An application by Rural Aviation. Ltd., for one pump at Ashburton aerodrome to sell aviation spirit to aircraft only, was withdrawn.