THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 15 February 1919, Page 5

THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM

LICENSED ViCTGALLERS' REQUEST...

1 «„££ n* meeting of the Hawera. Borough Council last night the following letter, deterred from the previoul meeting, was read from the Sa Electorate Licensed Victualled W ciation: As owners of the licensed house, the Commercial Hotel Th££' with ask your financial support for the protection of the license Kg*£ the referendum which takes place on Apn? iv: the amount <*■ your levy is £15 >' Ihe Mayor: Well, gentlemen 'you have the letter before you. Anyj£

Ci Lewis asked whether the Governmen. or any other local bodies' who were in a similar position to the BorSS Council, were paying; into the »!£wr H l va« rather unfortunate, he St this matter ehould oome &£ %£^ Council, as it would' bring into the Council party feelings. Ah party reelings should De sunk at the Council meetings. . . .v Or Bone moved that the Council do not contribute to the fund. Or Lewis seconded. Cr Goodwin explained that the Licensed Victuallers' Association were appealing for funds to meet, their expenses with the-" licensing referendum, and were asking for finan^ cial support from those whom they thought in duty bound should, contribute Tne £ Borough Council had ieen Bet down for a subscription aa being owners of Hook's licensed premisesi there was no doubt that the' Council was the owner of this property. ,If the Council considered that this particular property would be more valuable as a hotel property than as another property, it might be right for it to make a subscription to the Licensed Victuallers funds to protect the license. On the other hand, if the Council considered that the property would be more valuable as a property other than hotel premises, then the Council would notr be right m contributing'to the fund. lne Council was the servant of the ratepayers, and it had to consider the ratepayers in thk direction.. It had not to consider the question from a party feeling point of view; there must be no party feeling in the Council am regard to this matter, and he hoped that the letter would be considered from an unbiassed point of view The Mayor: Hear, near. Cr Goodwin, continuhng, said it seemed -to him that if promotion was carried in April he did not see that th e Council was going to receive very much m th.6 way of compensation. The site, in his opinion, would not be very .valuable for any other purposes than as a hotel. :.■'■■ ■ '••

Cr Cumming: What is the revenue received from this property? The town c l©rk: £598 in rent. This includes the stables and the sample rooms.

In answer to a further question, the, town clerk said if any money was voted to the fund as asked for they money would have' to come out •. of: xxa.authorH&ed expenditure. Cr Morrissey pointed out that the Council had not a mandate from the ratepayers in regard to whether they wished this property to remain a hotel or otherwise. Whatever, the. Council did it wanted to be sure of the legal position., . . ■ ■ .;" The town clerk: It would not be. an illegal payment, but an unauthorised payment. .

Cr Morrissey: In that case I will oppose the motion.. ■■"?. The Mayor said this was hot a party question. . The. question to be cosidered was: Whether the property would bring in more revenue wiisr^ Uoense J or without a license. He- was optimistic enough to belfeve that the property - would T)rine' in a larger rental under no license than under license. At present the rental was ridiculously small, for such a valuable property. ; Personally he did hot think the Council would be justified in paying into the: fund, ac asked for,_ from unauthorised^ expendituer, which would certainly 1>» "tagged" by the Audit Department, and- then the councillors1 individually would probably be called < upon; ti& pay the amount

Cr Goodwin: You mentioned that the rental was ridiculously low, your Worship. It is low; there Ss no doubt about that. When the lfea&ep Js up, would not the rental then be three times as much?

The Mayor: I wojildnot like to say, v Cr Goodwin. That is; a. very difficult question to answer. . X, The motion, that the Council 1 do not • contribute to the fund, was carried on a division. The voting was::- For the motion: The Mayor, Crs .Gumming, Reid, Lewis, Bone. Hayton? and O»----borne. Against: Crs Morrissey and ; Goodwin.