ACCOMMODATION LICENSES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 July 1915, Page 8

ACCOMMODATION LICENSES.

AT lECAMATUA AMD BIG RIVER. LAPSING OF THE OLD—GRANTING OF THE NEW. At the adjourned annual meeting of the Grey Licensing Committee, held on Saturday last, four applications for accommodation licenses at Ikamatua and one for premises at Big River (D. Beban) were dealt with, the applicants in respect of the Ikamatua district being W. A Meatos, I). A. McVicar, Jas. Martin, and James Haistv. Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., presided, and the following members of the Committee were present; Messrs IT. J. BigI, ell, F. H. Kilgonr, E. J. Scantlebury, J. Steer and W. Irvine. The application of W. A. Meatos in respect of premises at Ikamatua was taken first, Messrs M. Hannan and F. D. Sargent appearing on behalf of the applicant. Inspector Phair objected to the application on the ground that (1) the Committee had no jurisdiction : (2) that the premises applied for wore too near the public school and Roman Catholic Church; (3) that the premises had not sufficient accommodation ; and (4) that, in- accordance with sub-section 4, Section 128, of the Licensing Act, no license can be removed beyond the boundaries of a borough, countrv. or riding in which a license is situated. Mr Hannan submitted that the Bench were dealing with the issue of a new license and not the removal of a license. The Chairrnan stated the objection was presumably limited as to whether flic old licenses had died a proper death. It would be contended that, the old licenses having lapsed, the present applications were for new licenses, and that sub-section 4 was inoperative if licenses had died a proper death. Mr Hannan : That lias been settled by legislation. Mr Joyce, who appeared for the applicant James Martin, for n license at Tkamatua., asked that, as onlv one license

could be granted at Ikamatua the Bench

refrain from giving its decision in the application before them until the evidence on the opposing application was hoard. This was agreed to, and, in reply to the

Chairman. Mr Hannan said lie did not propose to go on with Hip other two applications if that of Meates were granted. These would he waived for the present. The reason why there were three applicants he had explained to the Bench at last meeting. He called Michael Phillips, assistant County Clerk, who gave evidence that two accommodation licenses in the Grey district had lapsed through nonpayment of the fee. The licenses thus lapsed were those formerly held by James Ha i.sty (Upper Blackball) and C. Warren (Ten Mile;. In the absence of Mr Collins, surveyor, Grey-month, J. H. Hannan gave evidence to the effect that ho had accompanied the former to Ikamatna some two months ago, when they jointly measured the distances between, the site of the premises in respect of which a license was

now being applied for and other licenses

in the district. The nearest licensed house then existing wap the Midland Railway Hotel at To tar a Flat, 61 miles from the Ikamatna site. John Henry Weaver, builder, was called to show that “reasonable” provision had been made for accommodation in regard to Meates’ new building, counsel intimating that no standard was set in this respect. The witness, in patting in a plan of the building, said he had been instructed by Mr Norman to put up a building of six rooms at Ikamatna. The work, which had been done ‘rather hurriedly,”

was practically finished. Mr Fletcher, Health Officer, had visited the place on Friday last and the suggested alterations he had made in regard to sanitary arrangements had been put in hand. In reply to Inspector Phair, witness could not sav if Mr Norman held a license in respect of premises at Blackwater. The new building was of red pine, with tongue

and groove lining. To the Chairman : He had been given the place to build, but no price had been fixed. Mr Norman was paying him for the job. To Inspector Phair: The building was

on stringers. There was no scrimming or papering, the building being lined with tongue and groove lining throughout, lie commenced to erect the building a fortnight ago —to be exact, a fortnight next

Tuesday. The windows were put in so that they could be hung or swung. He bad put up buildings before without first being asked for a price. The Chairman ; There’s not many of those jieople about now ! Mr Hannan asked what it mattered if the building was never paid for? William Norman said the application by Mcates was really on witness’ behalf. He bad instructed the last witness to put up the building. It was placed on stringers, with the idea of removal to a different site. His instructions to the carpenter were to build six rooms expeditiously, to he finished before that day if possible. No arrangements were made as regards price. Tlie nearest licensed premises were at Tota.ra Flat, 51. miles distant. The building in respect of which a license was sought was about 14 chains from the Ika. matua school. It was built on a slope, so that it could not be said to be on very wet ground. It was fit to provide for all the accommodation required in the district at the present time. To the Chairman: It was not quite finished. Asked by the Chairman, in regard to furnishings, if people would have to sit on boxes, witness gave an affirmative re-

ply, and to a further query as to whether they would have to bring their own pots and pans, witness said this matter could be easily arranged. To Mr Hannan : The furnishing could be easily completed by the time a certificate could be issued. To Inspector Phair, witness said the building might be only twelve chains away from the school—the distance had only been stepped out. • The school and the Church were the two nearest buildings. The new building was about half a mile from the Ikamatna railway station. Ho did not expect to-derive much trade from through trains, but be was forced to take up the present site. This necessity to build where he did accounted for the building being constructed with a view to its being shifted later on. He would have to take the risk of permission to remove in the future. The hotel would be of no use fo train people- There were about 20 buildings round about Ikamatua, and about ten at the railway station. Mo could not give the number of the population.

Mr Hannan: The Returning Officer could tell you that about 250 electors voted there at last general election. MARTIN’S APPLICATION.

Mr Jovce, for James Martin, an opposing applicant, said his .client bad secured a freehold section opposite the railway station, a suitable site for an hotel, and arrangements had been made for the erection of a first-class hotel. Inspector Phair objected on the same grounds as in the previous application. James Martin, applicant, said be was a blacksmith, residing at Ikamatua. He had 'a lease, -with right to purchase, in re-: spect of the property on which he proposed to erect an hotel. A licensed house was required at Ikamatua and, personally, he had at times accommodated people at his private house. He had arranged for a new house costing £IO6O if a license were granted him. To Inspector Phair : The Proposed site was owned by Mr Billett. Witness had a lease for 20 years, subject to his application being granted. It was a. freehold section, of about half an acre. A blacksmith’s shop was the only building on the front of the section; on this building noil tfee of application was.posted by witness. {There were over a dozen cottages in IRa-

matua within a radius of one mile-. Some 36 people resided there. To Mr Joyce: There is a boardinghouse at Ikamatua. Notwithstanding this, ho had been asked for and had provided accommodation.

John McMiiih, carpenter, of Reefton, stated arrangements were complete to build an hotel for the last witness subject to the granting of a license. To Inspector Phair: The applicant made the arrangements with witness in ren-ard to the building contract. POLICE EVIDENCE.

Inspector Phair called Joseph Fletcher, Health Officer, who visited Ikamatua on I riday last. Ihe building on which Martin s application was fixed was a stable and totally unfit for a license. In regard to Norman s building (Meates’ application), this was threcqnarters of a mile from the railway station. The building site could be made into an excellent one if the vegetable matter were removed from the top, but nothing had been done to make it a habitable site. The building was of six rooms (three bedrooms), the windows being fixed to slide up or downwards. The bedrooms were BJ,ft by Dp,ft, 9ft by 9^ft, and 10!t bv 91, ft. The diningroom was 18ft by 7iffc The Chairman : A goodly-sized passage!

Continuing, witness said the diningroom had an open fireplace, and the kitchen, a range. The room intended for a bar was 12ft by 91ft. The entrance is sft wide. A step leads from the front moms to the back rooms, showing Hint the rear portion was on the ground. The weather-hoard-ing is principally rusticated. The bedrooms require scrimn.ing and papering. The T. and G. lining is fairly good, but rough. There lias been no attempt at drainage, although this could he easily carried out. . There were no sanitary con. veniences or kitchen sink. The school and church he judged to be about ten chains from the building in question and were the nearest buildings. From what witness could see, the only people who would benefit from the license would ho the travelling public. It would, of course, attract the town people.

The Chairman ; Yon mean it would attret the people of Ikamatnfi? Witness: Yes. your Worship; they are not all teetotallers.

In reply to Mr Hannan, witness said it was possible for the sanitary arrangements he had recommended to have been carried out since the time of his inspection.

In reply to Mr Joyce, witness said that, in the interests of public health, a halfmile walk after leaving a train would bo beneficial, but there was also the question of weather conditions to bp considered when making for an hotel on leaving West Coast trains.

Constable Stark, stationed at Blackwater, also gave evidence on behalf of the police. Mr Hannan, in addressing the Bench, submitted in regard to the suitableness of the premises, that all the Committee needed to consider was whether reasonable accommodation was provided. It was admitted that the building had not been constructed with a view to permanency on the present site, and. if permission, for removal was obtained, and the applicant could get a better site, Mr Norman was prepared to put up a more pretentious building.

Mr Joyce, for the applicant Martin, pointed out that Martin’s site was the more suitable, and the new building he proposed to erect was far superior. If the Bench decided to grant a license at Ikamatua, Martin’s application should bo given pi’eference, a« he proposed to erect a substantial building as against one with only three bedrooms, a diningroom, a kitchen, and a bath. If Martin’s application were refused, and Meates’ granted, the objects of the Bench in granting a license from an accommodation point of view would be put back at least twelve months, a s it was admitted that Norman’s building would be ultimately shifted ii possible. BIG RIVER APPLICATION. Tlie applicant, Donald Bevan (Mr M. Hannan) for an accommodation license at Big River, said the premises for w' he sought a license laid formerly been used, as a store and billiardroom, but were now ready, fit and proper, to provide reasonable accommodation. He visited the premises on Thursday* last and saw rbat the necessary alterations bad been made. The nearest licensed premises were at Merrijigs. about ten miles distant. A plan of the building was put in. witness stating the rooms were ready for occupation. To Inspector Phair: The building was known as Hawkins’ billiard room. The Chairman : The place where Haw. kins was convicted of sly-grog-selling! Mr Hannan; That’s why we want a license! Continuing, to Inspector Phair, witness said the old building formed part of the new building. Witness had not lived at Big River for many days. The Chairman: How do yon like living there ? Witness: Oh, not very good roads! A mixed question put to witness in regard to the number of bedrooms required for himself and wife created broad smiles all round the court. Witness stated, in reply to further questions by the Inspector, that bis premises at Big River contained six bedroom fi and that stretcher beds were in the rooms at present. George Norn, owner of what are known as Hawkins’ billiard rooms, said ho purchased them twelve months ago. The building had been up about four years. He added to the building and used it as a store. There was no through traffic — the building wa s situated at the end of a road. The miners at Big River slept in huts and had their meals at boardinghouses. Big River was not a place, that required a lot of extra bedrooms. There had been convictions for sly-grog selling at Big River and he considered a licensed house was required, as it was preferable, to have a licensed house there than a “shanty.” The Chairman : Yon must have one of the other, then? Witness: Yes. To Inspector Phair : Between 50 and 60 men are working at Big River. The honsfe applied for was furnished ; there are beds there. This concluded the evdience, and the Committee retired for about 20 minutes to consider their decision. LICENSES GRANTED. On resuming, the Chairman asked Mr Hannan if both his clients were prepared to undertake to comply with the requirements of the Inspector of Health before the quarterly meeting, if the Committee, on their part, were prepared to grant the licenses. Mr Hannan replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said: Under the circumstances, the Committee have decided to grant Meates’ application for a license at Ikamatua; also that of Behan at Big River. CHAIRMAN DISSENTS. The Chairman added: “I dissent from the resolution of the Committee in the granting of these licenses, for reasons already expressed; also for the reason that I think the Committee should have adjourned these applications until the work had been done.”