AFTER-HOUR TRADING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 160, 8 June 1937, Page 10

AFTER-HOUR TRADING

YOUNG WOMEN INVOLVED. LICENSING BENCH COAIAIENT. “We have received a report from the police that there is still a good deal of after-hours trading going on in hotels in Palmerston North, especially involving young women. I think that the licensees should exercise control and dissuade these people from going on the premises. If it becomes much worse the penalties will have to be increased.” This comment was made by Air J. L. Stout, S.M., the chairman, at the annual meeting., of the Palmerston Licensing Committee yesterday. Others on the Bench with him were Alessrs J. Hodgens. M.P., W. It. Birnie, ' A. J. Graham, M. A. Eliott, and Colonel J. H. Whyte.

Applications were made by Mrs- M. J. Luoni for the transfer of the license of the Royal Hotel to Edward CPReilly, of Patea,' and by the trustees of' the late H. .13. Tucker for the transfer of the license of Tucker’s j Club Hotel to Mrs C. Tucker. The former matter was held over to be dealt with at an adjourned meeting of the Licensing .Committee in a fortnight’s time, and the latter transfer was granted. Inspector J. Cummings, who appeared for the police, intimated ihat steps would have to be taken at an early date for the rebuilding of Tucker’s Club . Hotel. Applications for t'he renewal of publicans’ licenses were made by Frederick Ingolf Colvin (Masonic Hotel), Mrs S. T. Murphy (Cafe de Paris Hotel), . Mrs R. M. .Burrows (Railway Hotel), Mrs A. Clark (Central Hotel), Thomas Grace (Midland Hotel), Edward Barnes (Grand Hotel), Sommerville Walter Evans (Princess Hotel), Thomas Ormsby (Junction Hotel, Longburn), John Forbes Grant (Family Hotel). Frederick Joseph Swindell (Majestic Hotel), Ernest Albert Fearnley (Empire Hotel), Edward Houlihan (Imperial Hotel), Georgb Henry Simpson (Carlton Hotel) and Alasdair McDonald (Commercial Hotel). During the discussion on the licenses. Inspector Cummings commented that the Railway Hotel would require £2OOO or to be spent on it at the expire of the current licensee’s term. He said the Empire Hotel required repainting and renovations soon.

The chairman stated that complaints had been made to members of the Licensing Committee of an increase in the number of cases of drunkenness from the Empire Hotel since it had changed hands. Regarding the Carlton Hotel, Inspector Cummings reported that during the period now ending there, had been two convictions recorded, against the present licensee, and one against the former licensee. Two convictions within six months rendered the license liable to forfeiture. He commented that the licensee of this hotel, as in the case of the Empire Hotel, conducted race meeting booth licenses as far away as the New Plymouth district and Otaki, ap.d it was considered that the absence of the licensee ip other districts did not permit him to exercise control over his hotel if an emergency arose. The chairman said the opinion of the committee was that booth licenses should only be granted to hotels within the district, blit lie could see nothing in the Act to prevent the present practice. It was a case in which the authorities might consider amending the Act to limit the . territories for the operation of booth licenses., Inspector Cummings said that twelve men hfod recently; been found after hours on. the premises of the Commercial Hotel, and the licensee would have to be more carpful.

The chairman observed that stricter supervision was necessary. The applications for the renewal of licenses were granted, except in the case of the Princess Hotel ami the Masonic Hotel, which, were adjourned for a fortnight pending the carrying out of minor building alterations to the satisfaction of the police. Stating that extensive renovations were pending for the Family Hotel, Inspector Cummings said he was anxious to know when a plan was to be produced. ■ The chairman said a plan had been placed before the committee, but an architect’s report would be required to he made to the clerk of the committee. Applications bv Alessrs Johnston and Co., Ltd.. Barraud and Abraham, Ltd., and Tucker Bros, for the renewal of wholesale licenses w ere granted. The chairman, on behalf of the committee, complimented Inspector Cummings on the thorough nature of the reports which he had submitted to them.

INCREASED DRINKING. PROTEST FROAI HAWKE’S BAY. A SATURDAY EVIL. Per Press Association. HASTINGS, June 7. That drinking in New Zealand had undergone a sharp increase as a result of the introduction of the shorter working week and that he had been filled with “shame and horror” by what he had seen in Napier, Hastings, and other towns, was the statement made ,by the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay County council, Mr F. B. Logan, at to-day’s meeting of the council. “Drinking in New Zealand has increased heyond all bounds during the past year,” he said. “Others . may have been afraid to draw attention tothis matter, but I am going to say this now: I am alarmed by the question of where a great deal of the increases in pay and sustenance money under the new conditions is going. I soriietimes come into town on Saturday mornings, and- it fills me with shame and horror when I see where a great deal of that money is going. I don’t blame the publicans, nor am I a prohibitionist, but I think that it is time that some person occupying an official position spoke. "Drinking in New Zealand lias increased beyond all bounds during the past year. ' One has only to go to Napier or Hastings or any large town for that-matter, to see the position for oneself. I say this: The week-end holiday was instituted to give the men an opportunity of enjoying leisure and of putting fresh vim into their bodies. It was expected that as a result of this move the next generation would be more virile and more healthy than the present one. I cannot see that the next generation will he better than the present with this increase in drinking.

POSITION IN DUNEDIN. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, June 7. Generally good conduct of hotels, less evidence of betting, the remodelling of two leading hotels and highly satisfactory maintenance and improvement of most premises were favour-, ably commented on by the Dunedin

Licensing Committee at its annual meeting to-day.

Comment was also made that although more women were drinking in hotels, licensees appeared to be exercising better control and the police were directed to pay particular attention to hotels where large numbers of persons were found unlawfully, suggesting illicit trading. Licensees were also warned against supplying liquor to youths. WELLINGTON HOTELS. WELLINGTON, June 8. During the annual meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee yesterday strong- 7 comment was -made by the eiiairir.nn Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.) on some of the old wooden hotels, of which he said it would be in the best interests of owners, licensees and public if they were pulled down and modern hotels erected in their stead.