HOTEL TAKINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 111, 12 May 1945, Page 5

HOTEL TAKINGS

EVIDENCE OF MANAGERS P.A. AUCKLAND, May" 1!.

At the sitting of the Royal Commission on Licensing this morning Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., representing the'&ew Zealand licensed Victuallers' Association, expressed the opinion that hotel licensees would not wish to have their evidence concerning balance-sheets and other confidential and private information made public. He considered that in many cases the evidence of these witnesses would not be reported in full, and consequently it could give a wrong impression to the public. ' He asked the commission. to give further consideration to the question of „ the type of information mentioned being given in public. "Where specific charges are going to be made against a hotelkeeper or others, we should be provided with details of the charges, otherwise- Aye are unable to meet the charges forth-r with," stated counsel. He submitted that the opportunity should be given for such charges to be met at once.

Mr. Justice Smith said consideration would be given and in the meantime certain evidence would be held over.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hardie Boys, representing the New Zealand Alliance, William John Pritchard, licensee of the Shakespeare Hotel, said he banked weekly between £400 and £500. Questioned by Mr. Boys and Mr. O'Leary about his earnings as manager, witness said that he was a traveller for Dominion Breweries and had been asked, two years ago to take over the Shakespeare as temporary manager. That arrangement still stood. His wife was paid separately for her work at the hotel, and their joint earnings were now equivalent to £1000 a year, including board. Alexander Watt, manager of the Britomart Hotel, cross-examined byMr. Boys, said that, the stock sheets showed that the turnover for the hotel for the week ended April 26 (a week of four days and Saturday owing to Anzac Day closing) was 1291 gallons, and the takings £708 19s Bd.