HOTEL LICENCES

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1940, Page 10

HOTEL LICENCES

higher fees urged. A Wellington remit asking that ‘consideration be given to the question of securing an increase in the f'es paid for publicans’ and wholesale licenses, these fees having remained the same for very many years, although the c-xtension of trade has been considerable,” was defeated by 68 votes to 33 at the annual conference of the Municipal Association in Wellington. . . n Mr T. Forsyth said that the 194’) fees were the same as in 1881—publicans within a borough £4O, outside £25, wholesale £2O. In 1894 there were 1453 licensed houses; in 1939,

1032. In 1880 there was one publican’s licence for every 368 persons, and to-day there was one for every 1573. Many publicans’ licences existed in West Coast towns where they had practically no value. Business was now much greatei' and more money was spent in hotels. It might not be fair to increase licence fees on the West Coast, where there was a superfluity of hotels. In cities and larger boroughs, however, population figures justified a 400 per cent, increase. This was no exaggeration when it was .realised that licences had changed hands in Wellington in the last -10 years at from £5OOO to £12,000. Known instances were £5OOO, £lO,OOO and £12,000. The value of these licences was increasing daily. Mr P M. Butler said that £4O a year was infinitesimal to the breweries controlling some hotels.