HOTEL LICENSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 95, 20 March 1940, Page 10

HOTEL LICENSE.

COAIAIITTEE’S DECISION. “The committee think, this being the unanimous decision, that you should take some steps to get another licensee,” said the chairman of the Palmerston North Licensing Committee (Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M.), at the close of an adjourned sitting on Monday, to Mr G. Crossley. who appeared for E. F. de Tourret, seeking a permanent transfer of the license of the Alidland Hotel from A. A. Tuart to de Tourret. Associated with Mr Lawry on the committee were Alessrs J. Hodgcns, M.P., AI. A. Eliott. A. J. Graham, D. J. Lovelock and r Colonel J. H. Whyte. Air J. A. Grant appeared for the mortgagee and Mr H. Tt. Cooper for the Palmerston North City Council. the owner of the freehold.

inspector H. Scott said the police objected to the permanent- transfer of the license (a temporary transfer being now in force) on the grounds of the number of convictions under the licensing laws against applicant. In the last four years there had been seven, five of the seven were in the last 12 months, and of these five three had been within the period of his holding the temporary license. The domestic part of the hotel had been verv well conducted indeed. Mr Lawry said that he, too. had made enquiries as to the conduct of the domestic part of the hotel, and it was all that could be wished for. Mr Crossley said that in 14 years of the 18 in which applicant had held a license he had not sustained a conviction, a record for a licensee to be proud of. On March 4 (when the committee first sat) the police had not objected to tlic transfer. Between March 4 and now the hotel had been kept under the closest surveillance. Mr Crossley reviewed the more recent changes seriatim and said applicant had never been found in the bar and on only two occasions had he been convicted of wrongful supplies personally. Complaints Pad been made as to the Midland Hotel (some being anonymous). Counsel knew that some of these were ma.de by persons not disinterested. On March 4 applicant had been fined £45. With applicant’s great interest in the hotel now, if the license were refused him the penalties imposed in the Magistrate’s Court on March 4 would be multiplied by hundreds, even more. Counsel made a strong plea for- the granting of the application Ho suggested that the committee 'extend the period of temporary license. This would then not "o against the police report. ° Mr Grant said that the mortgagee (an institution) did not wish the license to be sold on a forced market. The present licensee had been most admirable in every way from the financial point of view. The chairman said that if the committee decided to refuse the application they would adjourn the meeting further "thus giving a space of time to the mortgagee and the landlord. The chairman made the remarks quoted and the sitting was adjourned for a month. Tf genuine negotiations! then still had to he brought fo finalitv, n further extension may be granted, said the chairman.