Licensing Committee

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 42, 1 June 1945, Page 3

Licensing Committee

MID-CANTERBURY -DISTRICT

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

The annual meeting of the MidCanterbury Licensing Committee was held at Leeston to-day, the members present being Messrs. B McNamara, W. Johnston, E. Buchanan,G. H. Nicholl, _,nd T. S Harrison, with Mr R. Ferner, S.M., as chairman.

Constable Nesbit, who representedi the police, said that there were ten hotels in the district and the conduct of all except one, and that only in the last three months, was considered to be satisfactory. He had been instructed to lodge an objection in respect of the Southbridge Hotel. There were no other objections. ,

When the application from W. Nidd for transfer of license to P. J. Kelleher was called, Constable -Nesbit stated that he had been ininstructed to object, although an objection had not been formally lodged. -

The chairman asked if there was anything of which the committee could take cognisance.

The police replied that the matter referred to the conduct of the licensee and mentioned that charges relating to the conduct of the hootel were pending. -

The chairman said that there was nothing'^of which the committee could take cognisance. The application was granted.

..When the application from Kelleher for a publican's license came before the committee, Constable Nesbit said that he had nothing further to sadd. The instructions came f rom the ! department, and he asked for an .adjournment.

Counsel for the- applicant pointed out that no notice of objection had been received-in the ordinary way. He submitted that the committee could not take cognisance of the objection-unless it was done in the proper way and due notice given to the applicant.

The chairman said that the submission was sound. Had the police desired to object they could have given formal notice fourteen days before. He added that the committee on its own motion could take cognisance. The matter was yet unproved, since the charges before the court had not been finalised. The committee did not desire to comment on this matter and he did not do so. With regard to other matters complained of, the committee wished to give a definite warning that unless there was a change in the coduct of the hotel the committee would take cognisance at a later time.

Counsel, after conferring with the applicant, said that A Kelleher was a licensee .of some considerable experience. He had recently been in Wellington and had returned to the district a few months ago. Counsel said that he understood the applicant's conduct in Wellington was quite satisfactory and that he had been given a certificate of fitness without opposition of any kind. Since he had been in the Southbridge Hotel, he had improved the appearance and amenities of the hotel. Applicant had given the assurance that in future the hotel would be conducted on satisfactory lines.

After consideration of the application, the chairman said that the committee was by no means satisfied. As this was not an application for renewal of license and no formal objection had been lodged, there was nothing the committee coOld do but to grant the license, only because it must. He added that if during the present licensing year there were any complaints regarding the licensee which came before the committee in the proper way it would most probably- take note of those grounds and follow the procedure which it was authorised to do under the Licensing Act. The chairman added that in all its discussions it had had no recourse to any matters which were at present sub judice, but had based its observations on other matters.

Renewals of licenses were granted to the following: G. S. McGallan, Chertsey Hotel; W. J. Owens, Hororata Hotel; J. P. McKendry, South Rakaia Hotel; H. Stafford, Leeston Hotel; R. J. Scholium, Railway Hotel, " Rakaia; R. W. Jackman, Doyleston; C. R. Hatchard, Dunsandel Hotel; W. J. Halliday, Canterbury Hotel, Methven; W. N. Willis, Methven Hotel, Methven.