CANCELLING OF THAMES HOTEL LICENSES

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1949, Page 4

CANCELLING OF THAMES HOTEL LICENSES

Control Commission Hears Evidence SIX OUT OF THIRTEEN MAY GO

Pm.-. THAMES, August 23. Giving evidence before the Licensing Control Commission today, W. H. Freeman. S.M. (the Chairman of the Hauraki Licensing District) said that the licensing Committee thought a standard should be set so that tU. committee could endeavour to see the standard was maintained. I'he commission consists of Messrs A. M. Goulding, S.M. (chairman). L. C. Nisbet and B. Barrington. Mr A. L. Tomkins appeared as counsel assistin'- the commission and many other counsel attended to represent various into-e sts.

Mr Tomkins opened by saying that this commission was an enquiry under Ihe Licensing Act, 1948, One of its isme.i was to determine which lic.m c e> are considered necessary. It was also to determine as to applications for new licenses. In reference to the town ,of Thames, he said, a great many licenses had been granted in its halycon flays. Today it had 13 hotels. The population of Thames today was between 4,500 and 5,000. That made it about one license to each 300 of population. The average for New Zealand was one hotel per 1,500 of population. Sergeant Baylis gave a check that was taken from March 6 to March 26 of casual und permanent guests at the respective hotels. Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., gave the population of the principal towns in the Hauraki Licensing District. He said that the question of licenses had been considered by the Licensing Committee, and he thought that there might be seven licenses retained and six licenses cancelled. A large number of publicans gave evidence regarding the number of casual and permanent guests catered for during the past twelve months. Mr R. E. Chamtaloup, for the Auckland Automobile Association, gave an extended report on the accommodation position throughout the Hauraki Licensing District. The first application for an additional license came from the Hauraki Plains area, when it submitted that the township of Ngatea is justified in having a publican’s license. The sitting will be continued tomorrow. _.