LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 135, 8 June 1906, Page 5

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

THE CHRISTCHURCH HOTELS. [B7 rELKGHAPH. — PHESS iSSOCIArIOM.) CHRISTCHURCH, 7th June. The annual meeting of the new Licensing Committee was held to- - day. In connection ivith the renewal of ono license, th© chairman said th© committco was of opinion that the existence of dives was .not in the best interests ot thtj trade. In regard to another hotel, tho chairman said the committee would not grant a license while the bar opened on to a, right-of-way, and the application was directed to stand ovei. Several other applications were adjourned on the grounds thitl th© buildings were unbuitiible, or that the houses were conducted improperly. An application was made on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' A'isociation for an extension of the hour of closing to 11 o'clock, in view of the exhibition. J Th© chairman said the committee was of opinion that' the suggestion of people being shut out after closing hours was only, a bogey. It was absurd to » y that a man had no right to de in an hotel after tho closing hour, for the lav» specially provided for men being on licensed premises after closing huurs with a reasonable excuse. The matter was adjourned till' 18th June. The question of brewing firms appointing managers to tun hotels came up in connection with an application for the renewal of a certain license. The chairman said it ivas against the whole spirit of the Licensing Act that tho manager of a brewing firm should be put into- a house as licensee. That was the worst feature of the tied-house system, and he believed the bulk of the trade was opposed to -the system. Th© committee was not going to allow any brewing firms in hristchurch to run nouses for their own benefit. After some further discussion, the committee adjourned the matter until Saturday week. , REFUSAL OF LICENSES. MARTON, 7th June. The Manawatu Licensing Committee today refused to grant a license to tie .Criterion Hotel, Bulls, as the premises had not been maintained at the required standard and are out of repair, and the rooms insufficiently furnished for public accommodation. The renewal of a wholesale license at Rongotea was refused. Additional accommodation is to be provided at the Manawatu and Family Hotels at Foxton. A recommendation to rebuild the Marton Hotel was held in abeyance; meanwhile the house "is be put in thorough repair. Several applications for renewals were adjourned for three months. QUESTION OF REBUILDING. BLENHEIM, 7th June. A meeting to-night elected a committee to wait on the Licensing Committee to ask that rebuilding be not demanded till after the next general election. Th© opinion was expressed that an injustice had been done.