LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 7651, 29 June 1888, Page 4

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

An adjourned meeting of the Caversham Licensing Committee was held last night, when there were present Messrs Todd (chairman), Craig, Jones, Bridger, and Wright. Mr Jones explained that business had kept him fiom attending the last meeting. He never shirked his duty.

The Chairman said the business before the Committee that night was two applications which were adjourned from the annual meeting. The first was that of Christian Hansen. That license had been formerly in the name of Hannah Hansen, but now that Mr Hansen was residing in the immediate neighborhood the Committee required that the license should be in his name, consequently he had made application for the license. There was nothing against the house, but the Committee were not quite clear about the applicant's present position. Mr J. Macgregor said he appeared for Mr Hansen. There was, as far as he was aware, no clause in the Licensing Act which disqualified an undischarged bankrupt. There was a clause which disqualified bailiffs, auctioneers, constables, and so forth; but any person who was an undischarged bankrupt was not disqualified. This was discussed by a committee at Gore, and the license was granted on the ground that there was nothing in the Act to disqualify an undischarged bankrupt. There' was a clause about a publican becoming bankrupt during his license, but that would not apply in that case.

Mr Solomon said he could corroborate what Mr Macgregor had said about Gore. The Committee were informed that the liqepsee was m uncertificated bankrupt, and they decided that they could grant a license, and they did grant it, After a retirement the Committee returned, and The Chairman said the Committee would have granted the application at once, but they had some little doubt as to whether it was in their power to do so ; but they were now of opinion that it was within their power, and tho application would be granted. The next application was that of James Muir, in respect to the Commercial Hotel, Mr Solomon appeared for the applicant. He said the question was as to whether this license was required in the district. He would like to point out respectfully that it wan a very difficult thing in a small borough like Caversham for the" Committee to pick out a house that was or was not required, He submitted to the Committee what the result would be if they refused the license. The applioant had lived in the country for fifteen or sixteen years, and bad been a respectable citizen during that time. He was getting old, and had invested all his money in the house, and was quite unable to obtain ! a living any other way. ' If theyrefused the license they would be very cruel to these people. In the 'present case he was not only an applicant for a license but* was owner of Ihe prop'ejfjby, ths Committee should epnsjTder carefully beford fcjhey ook away

the license. There was no complaint of any sort as far as he was aware. He strongly asked as a matter cf justice not to deprive them of their license.

The Chairman said he thought that most of the gentlemen on the Bench had been acquainted with the family of Mr Muir for a long period of years. He was sure it was very far from the desire of any of the Committee to do anything that would be an injustice to this licensee. He thought the first duty of a Licensing Committee was to consider the interests of the community in granting or refusing an application for a license. If there was no likelihood of gaining a livelihood there would be no applications. The view that the Committee took of it was not to grant too many licenses in a small district, especially in a time of depression. The Committee were somewhat doubtful as to the granting of this application. Rumors had reached the Committee at various times in reference to the conduct of that house; but they were extremely anxious not to take notice of these rumors so long as they could not bring forward evidence to prove the truthfulness of them. It was just from these circumstances that the Committee were led to consider whether it was owing to the fact that little legitimate business could be done that illegitimate means were resorted to. After a considerable absence the Committee returned to the hall, and The Chairman said the Committee had some difficulty in arriving at a decision. They had come to the conclusion to grant the application, but they wished very strongly to impress on Mr Muir the necessity of seeing that his house was properly conducted in order to ensure a continuance of his license.