CONDUCT OF HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 73, 20 December 1937, Page 10

CONDUCT OF HOTEL

Charges Against Licensee

“IMPROPER CONTROL”

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Rotorua, December IS.

After notice had been served on a licensee to attend and answer charges in regard to the alleged improper conduct of his house, the Rotorua Licensing Committee, at a meeting which lasted all day and concluded just before midnight yesterday, and after hearing extensive evidence in regard to the charges, indicated that at its annual meeting in March it would expect the licence of the Tokaanu Hotel to be transferred from the present licensee, John- Atirau Asher, to some more suitable person. The chairman of the committee, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., stated that the committee had decided to adjourn the matter till the annual meeting to give other parties financially interested in the hotel an opportunity to safeguard their interests. Evidence dealt firstly with police complaints regarding a drinking party in the hotel on a Sunday, August 1, when it was alleged that some members of a visiting football team, together with some other persons and two Maori girls, conducted what was described as a “drinking orgy” in the hotel. It was stated in connection with this that 18 bottles of beer and half a bottle of whisky were supplied to the party, a number of those present becoming intoxicated and one of the Maori girls being seen asleep on a bed with a European who was also drunk.

In reply to a questoin by Mr. F. Ongley, who appeared for Asher, the chairman said he would instruct the Bench to base its finding, first on the evidence in relation to the incidents on August 1, and secondly on any evidence tending to show improper conduct of the house. Laxity Denied. Considerable evidence in this connection was called relating to the alleged laxity on the part of the licensee in the supply of liquor to Natives and in not being present to supervise the conduct of the hotel. Asher denied the allegations, but after deliberation the chairman announced that the Bench was satisfied there had been improper control of the premises, and under Section 104 of the Licensing Act had decided that the licence must be transferred to a more suitable person than the present holder.