LICENSING COMMISSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1945, Page 6

LICENSING COMMISSION

ASHBURTON**PROPOSALS CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. Seven proposals to enable the town of Ashburton, with a population of ; more than 7,000, in a “wet” district, to have hotels—no provision for local Restoration polls having been made under the law since 1925—were submitted to the Royal Commission on Licensing to-day, by the Ashburton Borough Council, through its solicitor, Mr. L? A. Charles. Mr. Charles said: “The result of the existing legislation has been that the borough ol Ashburton, and any other areas which, between 1902 and the abolition of the Ashburton electoral district in 1927, were at any time in the Ashburton electoral district, are suspended in mid-air like Mahomet’s coffin. They are no longer in a ‘nolicense’ area, but they have not any licenses, nor any possibility' of obtaining licenses.” Mr. Charles quoted the dicta of four Judges of the Supreme Court on the harshness of the law, and also the view of the Privy Council, viz.: “That the whole legislation is supposed to rest on the will of the people, as expressed by vote, and, at least, the population of .the Ashburton portion of Mid-Can-terbury would have to suffer their fate in silence.” The contention was made by the Ashburton Borough Council that provision should be made for Ashburton, whose position must not have been anticipated by the legislature when the existing legislation was passed. Summarised, the submissions of the Borough Council were as follow, it being stated by Mr. Charles, under cross-examination: — That the views were those of the Council alone. i That the Council sought to test nublie opinion. ✓ i ‘ That a poll be held at the next gcniera> election, confined to the elec- ! tors resident in the borough of Ashburton on the question of whether or not licenses under the Licensing Act, 1908, and its amendments be grant■ed in Ashburton borough. That a bare majority be required to carry the proposal. ' That, if the proposal he not car- ' ried, it should be submitted, in the : same form, at the subsequent licensing polls. , That if the proposal is carried at any poll, the Mid-Canterbury Licensing Committee may grant not more than five licenses in the borough oi : Ashburton, and, in granting these, give preference to the premises which had licenses in 1902, only if satisfied with the situation of such premises, 1 and that they ane suitable, or can reaI sonably be macle suitable, for licensed ! premises, I That if the proposal is carried at | any poll, no special form of licensing I control should be set up in Ashburton, any licenses which may be grant - ' ed being in conformity with the genI oral licensing law then existing. I That similar provision may also be I made for that part of the present reimuka licensing district situated north of the Rangitata River, which was, in 1907, placed in the Ashburton licensing district, and thereby lost six hcenses; and also for that part oi the present Temuka licensing district situated in the Ashburton county, and Tinwald town district, all of which was in the Ashburton licensing district when it carried “no license’ m That if the granting ol licenses be done. not. by granting new licenses, I but by re-distributing existing licenses, then sufficient can be transferred from all, or any, of the Westland, Buller, and Central Otago electorates, or from other South Island electorates, where the ratio of hotels to the electors is greater than 1 to 500.

FOX GLACIER HOSTEL

CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. “In our experience, it is apparent that the majority of tourist guests prefer to stay at a licensed hotel, said Fir. Michael Sullivan, a partner in the ownership of the Fox Glacier Tourist Resort Hostel, asking for a publican’s or an accommodation license, when he appeared before the Royal Commission on Licensing. “We have been constantly requested by overseas guests not aware of the position to supply liquor. The management would prefer to have the premises licensed; then strict control could be exercised over the sale of liquor.”

More than 2500 guests were received during the year ended April, 1945, and the hostel had a reputation as a first-class tourist hostel. A house license such as asked for by the Tourist and Publicity Department at Waitomo, Waikaremoana, Milford Sound, and Chateau Tongariro' would not be suitable, as it was desirable to give a service to casual visitors, residents, and workers in the district, which was being fast opened up and developed. Large forests of red and white pine were near at hand, and the surrounding lands were capable of great development as dairy farms and for cattle raising. Replying to questions, Mr. Sullivan said that if a license were granted the hostel should be allowed to retain its billiards room and dancing room.