Untitled

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 808, 11 June 1903, Page 4

(Continued from page 2.)

was" not required; the buildiq|gj could easily be put in a state of repair for ten or fifteen years. To the Chairman : There were only two tanks in, use; he thought there sihould be at least five or six.

J. D. BasMord said he was desirous of a new building, being built. It was difficult to keep the present building in repair. The wasMiouse was rotten, and the kitchen was falling down through, dry rot. He had tested the weather-boarding on the outside wall of the kitchen, his knife going, through. The floors ,were in places suffering from dry rot, and the chimney was not safe, and he was frightened of it, as it was beginning to fall away. In one place there was only a layer of bricks between the fire and the wall. Some of tike windows were defective. Underneath, some of the piles had. been sawn off, and' 4in x 4in studs placed between the foljocks and building. To Mr Welsh : He did not agree with Mr Clarson's report. He had been in the house nine months' ; he had been told by the late Constable Quinn that he would get a new house. He did not think the house was convenient ; neither could it be put in a good state o£ repair. It would have to be a good house to compete with other houses.

Mr Welsh : And yet you come into tkis Court with a, cock-and-bull story in order to get a new house to compete with the other houses. To Mr Bennett : Mr Clarson said the cost of repairs would be £800. Mr Welsh ; I deny that. The Chairman said it would be well to have Mr Clarson's evidence, even if an adjournment was made.

To the Chairman, the witness said there were fireplaces in some of the rooms, but they were in the wrong ones.

To Mr Davidson : The passage was narrow, and a crowd could not move freely. The house was not a convenient one.

Mr Bennett said he was only instructed yesterday, and had not had an opportunity !of getting an expert opinion. Under the circumstances 1 , if the Committee was not satisfied with the evidence of applicant, perhaps an adjournment for three months might be made in order to get a proppa: re--p\ort on the whole building. Mr Welsh said his friend had given his case away by his last suggestion. If the hotel was unfit why should the licensee desire to have the matter postponed for three months ? If the owners could satisfy themselves that the house could be put in proper repair that should satisfy everyone, for it was hardly likely they would be fools enough to expend money on rep&irs- that would not be any way lasting. If the report of the architects was that the house could not be put in proper repair, he ([counsel) would come, forward frankly within three months, and put plans for a new house before the Committee. In conclusion, Mr Welsh pointed out that the tenure of licensed houses was not too good, and said he felt stare the Committee would not in the circumstances be too exacting.

. The Committee retired, and on returning, the Chairman said the Committee had unanimously decided to adjourn the application to .the meeting in September. A report mjust be meanwhile obtained from Mr Russell, who with Mr Clarson should be in attendance to {give evidence at that meeting. One thing the Committee would insist on was* that the tanks should be increased to six, and connected with the water supply from the roof. It was in the knowledge of "the Committee that the well was a dubious source of supply. Unless tkis I was attended to by next meeting the license would be refused.

QUESTION OF EXTENSION OF HOUR OF CLOSING.

After the luncheon adjournment, the Chairman announced that he had during the interval considered the matter, and had gome to the conclusion that a renewal did not carry extension of an endorsement. The Committee was prepared to hear counsel in favotr of extension and of any person who appeared properly as an objector. Mr Halliwell said he had a petition to present. Ho did not 3mk>w whether counsel on the other side would object to tho petition.

Mr Welsh said he did object. He pointed <out that the petition was not in order, not having been lodged within seven, days before the sitting of the Committee.

Mr Halliwell said the limit/a tioin. referred to only peti%ions in connection with the granting, and renewal of licenses. There was nothing Ha the Act against petitions of the kind he purposed presenting, and he urged that it was competent for the Committee to receive it. It was a question in which ratepayers were interested.

Mr Welsh said if his friend's reasoning was correct it would also . be competent ftor the Committee to consider letters from any private persons who desired to send them in.

The Chairman said' the Question vfto.it one of Wvv, and it wa@ his djaty to advise the Committee. Whether they took notice oi his advice was another matter. The Act was clear in regard to petitions on the street of granting and renewal of licenses, but was silent on the question. of petitions regarding extension ; of closing hour. Tile question was -wl»<st.l»eir the circumstances warranted the extension of hour of closing, aufcl it was competent for the Committee to consider all matters within their knowledge. In order to determine the point as 'to whether the extension was to " the benefit and convenience of the public " it seemed only proper that all evidence on the matter should, be accepted, and he therefore thought it right that the petition should be' received.

The Committee decided that the petitions should be received and read.

Mr Halliwell said there was one petition from the town, and one from the country. Mr Bennett said by section 44, subsection 11, it was laid down' that the objector should commence.

The Chairman said that was only in the case of renewal.

Mr Welsh said periodically -this question cropped up before licensing committees, especially ixew ones. For many years Hawera had had eleven o'clock licenses. ' The ladies and genllemeu who opposed the licenses were not in favour of licenses at all.. At tho same time he gave them credit for being thoroughly in earnest. The' members of the Committee had been here for a number bf years, and knew the requirements of the towu, which, though small, was the centre of an agricultural district. We did not depend on the town alone, but on the surrounding! country for „ miles , around. Take, for instance, the num-' ber of people that came to Hawera on i Show days, and on other special occasions. He .asked the Committee if they knew of any place of the size of Hawera which was 'as well supplied with i stable fejbcoramodation. Go into those stables "i>n any night on which there;- was anything on, and one would find' the accommodation of the stables taxed to the utmost capacity by horses and vehicles belonging)' to persons from the country. Was it right that those people should .not have , an oppqrtun- ■ ity of t refreshing! themselves before they left for tKeir homes. Heßupppsed [ country people would come' to the town i if the closing! hour waa ten o'clock, < v hut .ho believed they would go away dissatisfied if they had wot an opportunity of getting:, their glass of toddy. Outside the prohibition and publican parties stood tho^ great body of the public, which required more consideration than either pf the parties named.

Thos. Nicholas, licensee of the Egniont Hotel for two years, stated that ho had been in business in the district for ten years. His hotel and the Commercial were known as " farmers' houses/ He thought eleven o'clock licenses were more convenient for his customers. His house and the Commercial were also commercial houses, and it often happened that travellers, whose clients from different parts of the district met them here, did not finish their business at 10 o'clock. Often there were meetings in the evening, and if tho hotels were closed at 10 o'clock persons attending- those meetings would frequently go home without refreshments. These meetings were often attended by country customers.

To Mr Halliwell : He was interested personally in the question, of course. He would prefer to go to bed at 10 o'clock, but the interests of the public had to be considered. | He could not go to bed while people were in the house unless he left someone in charge. Wanganui had 10 o'clock licenses ; it was a commercial district, represented by warehouses, where people could do their business in the daytime. Here it was different ; travellers notified their clients in different parts of the district, and transacted business with them when other people were in bed.

The Chairman said the question was not whether persons could transact their business in an hotel at any hour of the night, but whether persons who Kad been used to having! a drink should have it or not.'

To Mr Pitcher |. Many people went into the hotels between ten and halfpast ten on Saturday nights.

G. H. Gibson, stable-keeper, said he had held publican licenses in Hawera and Normanby. Recently he had to have a large stable built on account of increasing business. It was generally 11.30 or 12 before the stables were empty. A great many people came in to " shows" ; the theatre closed at, say, from 10.35 to 11, sometimes later. He thought it would be a great disadvantage to the public if the hotels were not kept open till eleven. He was satisfied that the same number of people would not come to town on Saturdays if the hotels were closed at 10 o'clock.

To Mr Halliwell : He believed it would make all the difference in the world if the hotels were closed at 10 o'clock. Large towns would not be affected so much as a small one, Because they would depend more on their own population.

Mr Halliwell suggested that the Bench should ask tho police to report. .The Chairman said Mr Halliwell could put Sergt. Bernard in the box if he liked.

The Sergeant, in answer to Mr Halhwtfll, said in some respects he thought 10 o'clock licenses ' would be sufficient in Hawera, as there were no late trains, but after hearing' other evidence it was difficult to form a decision. From a police point of view, he would prefer the hotels closed at 10 o'clock ; people would go home earlier. To Mr Welsh : He had been, inspector of licenses for five years, and had never opposed extension, as eleven o'clock hceiiscs had been in vogue for many years.

To Mr Halliwell : He thought 10 o'clock' licenses would be sufficient for Manaia. *

To Mr Welsh : He had never opposed extension in regard to Manaia.

Constable Hickman said 10 o'clock licenses worked very well in Opunake. What suited Opunake should suit Manaia.

Mr Halliwell said his friend, in opening 1 , had assumed that all who signed the petitions were prohibitionists, but the Bench had no right to assume that that was so. The onus of proof that an extension was required rested -with, the applicant, and the Bench must be convinced that there were real reasons for the extension. The Act provided only for 10 o'clock licenses, and allowed for extension only under special circumstances. There was no reason why the hour shlould be extended, although until lately it had grown into a' habit in many places to gutekit extension without much consideration. The contention that it would be for the convenience of visitors to keep the hotels opejn, till eleven o'clock applied equally to other towns, yet ten o'clock licenses worked satisfactorily in Auckland. New Plymouth, Wanganui, . and Stratford .aIJ had 10 fc> 'clock licenses. He pointed out that a majority of country people by their votes at the Licensing Committee election showed that they were in favor of 10 o'clock licenses ; yet the argument in favor of the application was that the desire for extension was in a measure to suit the convenience of country people. Counsel pointed out that no independent evidence had been called in support of the application. Mr Welsh, in reply, said the fact that the closing hour in Wanganui, New Plymouth, and Stratford was 10 o'cUock had nothing to do with the matter. The point the Committee had to consider was what hour would suit the convenience of the people in this locality. Tthe Committee was pledged to no party, and he left the result with, confidence in their h&nJds.

The Committee retired to consider the question. The Chairman, on the Committee returning, said extension to eleven o'clock would be granted in respect to the borough bf Hawera and Manaia.

GBANTED.

Thus. Bowiin appli d tor nnewal of licengo to Norm-ii iby Hotoi — lleport favourable. — Granted.

John Hook (Mr Welsh) applied for renewal of license for Commercial Hotel. The police report was favourable. — Gran>ed.

E O'Meara (Mr Ciplen) appHed for renewal of license for Middled n's Hotel, Opunake.— Police report favourable — Grant' d.

Timothy O'Connor (Mr Welsh) applied for renewal ' of license for K'sjowlos' Hoti 1. — Boport favourable.— Granted. -E. J. Wi'lunpon (Mr Welsh) applied for renewal of license, of Kaponga Hotel, 'Kapongy. — .Report favourable. — Gi anted. J. J. Count 11 (Mr Welsh) applied for rrnewal fjr Monaia Hotel, Maiaia. — Report favorable.— Grant* d. ; Mr Slatteiy (Mr Welsh) applied for renewal for SVa:iaalo Hotel, Manain. — The police reportedtbat drainage arranßetueritt* were (iefectivo. In answer to His Worsbip,'tbe Sergeant said the' well \v«s beiwGin stables aod hotel, and there was dungei* of dminege percolating into the well, and polluting the waier.-Mr Slat tery. said the well Darl just been sunk ; he had informed the landlord that the pol<ce obj feted to its location. — Application adjourned for three' months, renewal to be granted on the Bergeaot reporting that the stables have been removed. -

A. J. .Juiy (Mr Welsh) ww granted renewal for Okaiawa Hotel— Police report favourable. R. Briggs (M,r. Welob) ' was granted renewal in' respect of Commercial Ho el, Normanb'y.-- Report favourable. limothy O'Neill (Mr Welsh) applied fo> & renewal in respect of Central 'Hotfel, Hfw^rn.— The police repo ted favourably, but staged that the fire *gcap<s we're; dar ■ gerou°, ,and tfee wid'h of , the,, tread, ebould be enlarged.— Mir O'Neill s.iid Messrs Riissell '' ani Bignell ,had reporte-d favourably on the escapee.— The Commitue, aftei^ a v'sit to the hotel, decide! that the stips were daiigetoue. They would grant the application, but it was a direction to have alterations made lo the s'atief action of S. rgt. JSernard. ; . Thos. Nicholas (Mr Welsh) was granted renewal of license for Egmont Hotel.—' Police report favourable. V Annie Maguire (Mr Welsh) was granted renewal of license for Empire Hotel. — Beporfc favorable. Win. Greig (Me, Welsh) was granted renewal of license for Kailway Hotel.- 1 -

Eeport favorable.

Michael Ryan (Mr Welsh) was granted renewal < f license ia respect of Boyal Ho ol — B<-port favorable. A'ex.'A. Leslie (Mr Welsh) wasgrrtnt^il renewal in resp'c rf Shamrock Ho'o!, Hawera- Bepo.i favorable. B. L MnnrhiK (Mr Wel-h) was gutntt-d :cu. W.i! o. r New Zealand yine license. Tiiis concluded the bu*in< ss.