LICENSING BENCH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2478, 3 June 1915, Page 7

LICENSING BENCH

ANNUAL MEETING

THE HUTT VALLEY HOTELS

18 The annual meeting of the Hu r- Licensing Committee was held veste !- day, tlie following heinc on the bond a —Messrs. W G. Rieldell, S.M. (chai »- man), J. Cudby, J. W. M'Ewan, ai: >r J. Cotton. 3. Commenting on the report of tl ie police, Mr. Riddell said that tlie con r, mittee was satisfied with tho condui 0 of the hotels during the past year, wi! r T one exception. It was to be lioped th; , any hotel not being well conductc would shortly come under the main cat h gory. t . The only objection raised by the polk t, was in respect to the renewal of tli license of tlie Bellevuo Hotel, it bein stated that the building was in nee 1 of repairs. As the repairs would short! 2 he_ completed, the Bench granted a 3 adjournment of the application for thre i weeks. The following licenses were granted 5 • —Victoria Hotel (Petone), Charles Woe 6 ley; Taita Hotel, William Moore ' Trentham, R. Ouinn; Central Hot< ? (Hutt), F. L. Simpson; Central Hote (Petone), H. B. Oilmour; Family H< 5 tel (Hutt), Henry Feilder. 1 Transfers.—Victoria Hotel (Petone) 3 A. Gustofsen to Charles Wodley: Tnit 3 Hotel, Thomas Park to William Moore t Central Hotel (Hutt), T. D. Milbur; 5 to F. L. Simnson; Central Hote (Petone), H. F/. Card to H. B. Gilmmii Renewals—Rnilwav Hotel (Hutt) Robert Dwyer: Provincial Hotel (Upne - Hutt), Mary Kllen Young; Grand Nn • tionnl Hotel (Potoiie), A. A. Richard » son; Empire Hotel (Petone). H. J 1 Palmer; Ballevue Hotel, adjourned 1 Wholesale linens#: Andrew Y. Yees. * Wholesale license: Andrew Y. Lees. . SYSTEM OR COLLUSION. ' PLAIN SPEAKING BY A MAGISTRATE. 'By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hohltiha, June 2. When the Westland Licensing Com ' mittee resumed .last evening to decide ; whether any new licenses were to bi granted by the committee, the chairman Mr. J. G. L. Hewitts, stated that as ; result of deliberations the majority o: the members had decided to adjourn al applications for new licenses for on< month. He said this was .tantamouul to the committee agreeing to the grant ing of new licenses. If the granting of new licenses conic be dono in_ the regular way, he woulc have no objection to them being placec in localities where they were necessary hut as long as he sat on the Bencl he would bo absolutely opposed to the manoeuvring tactics employed to secur< the granting of such applications. _ He desired to say that lie and Mr M'Gregor, a member of the committee had dissented from the decision arrivec at. The means adopted in securing those licenses amounted to nothing more thai a _ system of collusion between the Licensing Committee and the applicants to defeat the clear intention of the Act and while he remained upon tlie Bench he would not be a silent party jo such proceedings. The law requirec amending, and if the alteration was not made the present method adopted ir securing licenses would have the effecf of bringing Licensing Committees intc disrepute, and so dragging the administration of justice through tho mire. If be_ failed to give expression to his opinions he "would not be fit to occupy the position of chairman of the committee ; in fact, if it was not so, and he was compelled to sit on the fenoe, he would resign as a protest against the wholo proceedings. If the present system of manoeuvring was going to continue, it was a positive disgrace, and he trusted that it would bo soon brought to an end. A SPECIAL REQUEST TO PUBLICANS. (By Tel«Eraj)h.—Press Association.' Auckland, June 2. At the conclusion of the meeting of the City Licensing Committee to-day, Sub-Inspector M'llveney stated that for reasons he was not at liberty to divulge, he had been instructed to put before the Bench a request to licensees that no liquor • should at the present time be sold in bottles for consumption off the premises between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mr. Cutten, S.M. (Chairman of the ■Committee), said that everybody had to make sacrifices just now, and it was asking comparatively a small sacrifice of the publicans to' request that they should not sell liquor to anybody after 8 p.m. There were excellent reasons for the request, and if it wore not complied with some other steps to meet, the difficulty would have to be taken by the Licensing Committee. He, however, felt sure that the publicans of Auckland would comply with the request. PAHIATUA MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Woodvlllß, June 2. The annual meeting of the Pahintua Licensing Committee was held to-day. All applications for licenses were "granted, except a new ono for the Kumeroa Hotel. _ The chairman announced the resignation of Mr. D. Hughes from the committee. Generil regret was expressed at his resignation, and appreciation of his services was placed on record.