AUCKLAND HOTEL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOTEL

1«» — ’ BUSINESS WITH SOLDIERS. -[per press association.] AUCKLAND, September 18. Evidence regarding the conduct of the* Victoria Hotel, recently placed out-of-bounds by the military authorities for soldiers in uniform, was given at the adjourned t quarterly meeting of, the Auckland Licensing Committee, when an application by the temporary -licensee, Norman Samuel Fraser (Mr. Elliot) for confirmation of a transfer of .the licence to him was being considered. Sergeant Dennehy said he visited the hotel- regularly for- a year, and often found large numbers of soldiers and sailors on the premises. Hesometimes had, a little bother, when checking the arrangements-for booking ’iff lodgers. On August- JI he found the licensee under the influence . of liquor, and not capable of-looking af-' ter the hotel. . "

Sergeant Taylor said there were 25 rooms in the hotel. On June 21 he found that there were bookings for 42 beds and 54 shakedowns, and on Jufy 12 for 27 beds and 43 shakedowns. There were many soldiers in the lounge, and the licensee said he did not like to see soldiers walking the streets, and'was only-doing what he could to accommodate them. "I know he has sometimes telephoned The police station, and even'called at the watchhouse for permission to take in more.men,” the'witness said, in cross-examination.' “If he supplied /them with shakedowns the committee would not take exception,” said the'chairman, Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. “The method of booking people in, we suggest, is only a blind,” said SubInspector Pender, representing the police. Sergeant Adams said sailors were charged 1/6, and soldiers and airmen 2/6 for a night’s lodging.- On August 1G "he found that there were bookings for 78 beds and shakedowns; but there were not more than 50 beds. At 8;30 p.m. on August 29 he found 30 soldiers on the premises. One Territorial was a local resident, and made a statement that he went to the hotel to obtain liquor, and had no intention of staying there. He paid nothing, but was allotted a room by the hotel.- As a result, the licensee was convicted for selling liquor after hours, and fined £7/10/-. The barman was fined £4 for supplying liquor, and the sol-' dier £1 for being unlawfully on the premises. The licensee, in evidence, said that he was certified by a doctor as completely sober 40 minutes' after being seen by the police on August 11. He had never had any complaints from the police about the conduct of the hotel, yet they visited the place on an average once every night, and paid as many as five visits in one night, even calling at 5 a.m. to check the number of lodgers booked in on the previous night. Mr. McKean: Why have the military authorities ruled the hotel out-of-bounds?- —-I don’t'know of any reason. I have had no complaints from the military authorities. Mr. McKean: They must know something of what -goes on in your hotel. —The Navy has asked me to look after its men, and keep them there. ’

reasons not given. Counsel said he wrote to the North.grn Military. District, asking for its reasons in placing the hotel out-of-bounds. He received the following reply: “.It is regretted that it is not considered that this headquarters should give reasons, to a civilian for the issue of instructions in the interests of military discipline.” “We cannot answer a charge when no reasons are given for it? and I ask* the committee to disregard it entirely,” counsel said. “It is conceivable that the army action followed the instigation of the police, and if that is the case it is not a separate charge at all. There may be'some military or other reason which has nothing whatever to do with the Licensing Act.’’

Counsel added that' there was no evidence of any system as the police alleged. The police almost lived there, and if there was anything wrong they would have found it. There was, only one isolated conviction, which was not sufficient to charge the licensee with operating a system. “The police are against the provision of shakedowns, so I propose to ask the committee to give a ruling In the matter,” continued Mr. Elliot. “The police look upon it with suspicion, and saj’ it is downright bad practice.” Mr. McKean: You don’t suggest that soldiers are charged 2/6 merely for the privilege of occupying a bed? “Hotelkeepers are how in a predicament,” said Mr. Elliot. “They do not know whether to accept men of the services or refuse them lodging. The licensees find it very awkward, and the committee should' rule whether they should refuse to take soldiers in.” Mr.. McKean: The committee is not going to tell licensees what to do; but it has no objection to accommodation being given to any soldier. Sub-Inspector Pender: s The police have no objection as long as the booking is genuine.

The committee adjourned to con- • sider its decision, after which the chairman announced that the majority was of the opinion that the licensee’s application for confirmation of his'transfer should be granted.