LICENSING COMMITTEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14081, 8 June 1909, Page 6

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

THE MANUKAU MEETING.

CARRYING OUT REDUCTION.

FIVE HOTELS TO " SHOW CAUSE."

Reduction having been carried for the second time in Manukau, at the last local option poll, and a licensing committee professing no-license sympathies having been elected last starch, intense interest was taken in the business transacted at the annual meeting of the Licensing Bench held at the Courthouse, Onehunga, yesterday afternoon. The maximum number of hotels to be closed is three and the minimum two, but the committee is pledged to close the former number. Mr. H. W. Northcroft, S.M., presided, while associated with him were Dr. W. G. Scott, Messrs. W. Westney, D. Hattaway, J. Flanagan, and G. H. Fleming. Sergeant M. Rogers acted as clerk to the committee. When proceedings opened the Court was crowded, while the counsel in attendance were Messrs. R. H. McVeagh, Fred. Earl, W. J. Napier, 0. Nicholson, A. Hanna, J. R. Lundon, G. Prendergast, J. R. Reed, C. J. Parr, M. H. Wynyard, C. J. Schnauer, Cave, and Dr. H. D. Bamford. The declaration of the last licensing poll in favour of reduction was handed in by the returning officer (Mr. S. J. ]>rookfie>.d) and taken as proved. There are 14 hotels in Manufeau, and in each instance applications were made for renewal of license, as follows Royal Oak Hotel, Auckland Road.. Onc- " hung* (Leonard Adams). Prince Albert Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga- (W. G. Rae). Hibernian Hotel, Queen-streti, Onehunga. (Clias. Lomax). Railway Terminus Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga (Archibald Bishop). Manukau Hotel, Queen-street, Onehunga (William Jas. Brewin), Exchange Hotel, Princes-street, Onehuiiga (Edward Keating). Harp of Erin Hotel, Ellerelie (Mrs. Ellen Louisa Wright). Marine Hotel, Howick (Arthur E. Bennett). Star Hotel, Otahuhu (John Jas. Russell). Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu (James Mcintosh Fraser). Papakura Hotel, Papakura (Wai. Parkinson). Globe Hotel, Papakura (Mrs. Isabella Smith). Railway Hotel, Drury (Mrs. Harriet Dingle). ' . Wairo.n Hotel, Clevedon (Arualdo T. H. Luke). Replying 10 Mr. C. J. Parr, the chairman stated that the police evidence would be taken in each instance- when considering applications for renewals. Mr. W. J. Napier asked whether the Bench would adopt the procedure of the Auckland committee, and to this Mr. Northcroft replied that such procedure would not be followed. He had sat longer on the Bench than Mr. Cutten, and in the first place the members of the committee had taken their seats without having decided upon anything. After hearing the police reports the committee would intimate which hotels they desired further evidence about, and having heard the evidence, would make such reduction as was thought necessary after considering the convenience and the requirements of the public. There were no endorsements of licenses and nothing by way of objections in the police reports. ROYAL OAK HOTEL. The application for a renewal of license to Leonard Adams, of the Royal ' Oak Hotel, wag first considered, Mr. J- R. Peed appearing on behalf of the licensee, Mr. M. H. Wynyard and Mr. C. J. Schnauer for the owners. The police report was favourable, and it was contended that the hostelry was of much service, especially to drovers, as there were accommodation paddocks convenient, and everything possible was done to cater for the requirement* of this class of customer. Mr. John Moss, at one time" manager of the Costley Home, and the Rev. Percy S. Smallfield, each objected to the license being renewed, urging that cases of drunkenness had ■ been witnesed in the vicinity of the hotel at different timee, while inmates from the Veterans' Home had been discovered coming from* the building in a state of intoxication. Mr. Reed handed up a petition in favour of the retention of the license, 116 signatures of residents living within, half-a-mile of the hotel being attached to the document. ' 7'- ' Evidence as to the good conduct of the hotel, and its usefulness as a piece 'of accommodation, was given by Robert Ross, 1 cattle dealer; W. J. Sayers, coatractorj H. 0- Nolan, acting-manager for the Loan and Mercantile Company, Auckland.; Wm. Clerk, settler; Matthew Friar, merchant; John Park, architect; W. R. Tolc, settler F. D. Yonge. secretary Otahuhu Trotting Clubhand John G. Rutherford, farmer. During the evidence it was stated .that- the hotel was one of the oldest in the province, having been in existence about 65 years. ■•. ~ \ '» ' - ~-■'■ ■ The Chairman announced that the committee would reserve its decision i a this case. ","-..' LIST OF •'< NAMED" HOTELS. Mr. Northcroft next intimated that, in addition to the Royal Oak, evidence would be required: in the cases of four other licensed houses, and at present the following quintette figure in the suspend list:— , Royal Oak Hotel, Onehunga. Prince Albert Hotel, Onehunga. Harp of Erin Hotel, Ellerslie. Railway Hotel, Drury. Wairoa Hotel, Clevedon. WAIROA HOTEL. The application of A. T. H. Luks for the renewal of the license of the Wairoa Hotel, Clevedon, was next considered, Mr, J. R. Lundon appearing in support, and presenting a lengthy petition in favour of the retention of the license. This not having been handed in within seven days of -the advertised time for the meeting, was deemed inadmissible, and vxded out. Counsel addressed the Beach at corcider able length, and caller; evidence .to prove that the hotel was necessary li% th« district. As a place of accommodation the average meals supplied weekly reached between 200 and 300, while on sale days over 100 dinners were served. Mr. London called Messrs. Campbell Mitchell and David Blair, who gave evidence as to the good accommodation provided, the- number of people who frequented the hotel, arid the good management of the licensee. As in the case of the Royal Oak, the Bench decided to defer its decision.

RAILWAY HOTEL, DRURY. The third-application taken was that of Mrs: Harriet Dingle, for a renewal ci the Railway Hotel license at Dr;>.ry. Mr. Fred Earl appeared in support, presenting a formidable quantity of documents, including seven memorials from - residents of the surrounding district*. The first memorial wot signed by residents of Drury, and strong'v advocated the retention of the license, urging that not eidy was the hotel well conducted, but that it was an absolute ossessity as an accommodation hcas?s. The other memorials came from Tulu'mata, Paerata, Kar.ika, Ramar&ma arid Paparimu, Bombay, and A'rariwtv.'." V\ l\l-.K.h evidence was called by Mr. Earl, witß«&ses including Messrs, 0. Mitchell, of A.. BiicUH&d and Sons; Joseph Batty, manager* -■! the Karaka Land Company; Isaac Gray, president Auckland Agd<.;ulttirsrl Association, John C. Moore, M, McKcudry, Jas. Blake, Daniel Lynch. R. Pvigh, J. G. Rutherford, cud Mrs. H. E. Moore. The evidence was in keeping with the memorials. An objection was no*- offered by Mr. John Wiliani' Dixon. II» objected to the license being renewed, on the grounds that a heavy vole had been cast in a portion of th« iaujic-diate district for reduction, in somo places as much as two to one snd thief* to one in favour. If iha lic*n** was cancelled good accommodation could still bo provided. He lived aK-Bjte-da tli«. betel, and'. wa£* against the gwitivg of ■ tba .. '-renewal applied for. Tna iiimajr £?ai£on»

was adjacent, and the risk to ■ intoxicated persons boarding trains was considerable At this stage Mr. Earl caused a slight sensation by asking complainant whether his objection dated from before or after the period of certain transactions It was explained that Mr. Earl merely mentioned the incident in order to ascertain whether complainant's objection to - the licensee dated from that particular period, while the chairman at the same time had to severely rebuke the onlooker* ? for an outburst of levity. ■ ™ ..' Mr. R. Pugh railway clerk, repudiated an insinuation that railway employees were in the habit of partaking of drink duringworking hours at Drurv, after which the " Court adjourned until nine o'clock this morning. ,

WAIKATO HOTELS. ; j [bt telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Hamilton, Monday. , The annual meeting of the Waikato Licensing Committee was held at the Courthouse, Hamilton, to-day. Mr-'F O'B. Loughnan, S.M. (chairman), p res j<j"„ ing. All applications for licenses and transfers were granted, but in one or two cases country licensees received a warning as to the conduct of their hotels, while in others, the owners promised to have certain necessary repairs effected. •

EIGHT LICENSES REFUSED. ■"' [by texegbath.--t. R e3s A-ssocuTibir.]; y IriJK£l>br, Monday. At the anrrjd -rltSe Dunedia Licensing: f~on.L\H '-'x *ft-d*tf - eight applications lot r.r.biituris' 'Hurras joe hotels vera refused m Mvms :~-M*MiU (Colin Campbell). OiUedonian (J."-fi(sce}y Scotia (J. J. Eoushaa'". .DoiigLis (J. Heddes), Shades (J, Barclay), Duke ©I Edinburgh (D. McKcnsia},, Grc-af Northern (J. Toomey), Queens (J. Cran*|. The following six application.'; are., under consideration: ■/: —Central (Hardou), GlaAsksoe (Collins),' Wains (Biofeteud), P»i«s of Wales (Gray)' Royal Albert (MeCJfcvinl, (Gleeson). It is understood that :wo,o[ these applications- will he r^M'ssed..- "'-.■ ■ ,fv : ; Applications k>v bottle bVfkfee' ; will be taken on Wednesday. Ail ."ptf;c<it?,jns for wholesale licenses, d_an-a"priir,&'ioD' {or a packet license foe tbt?. -ilkti=fe were granted. ■ ' • ;>-}.

SOUTHERN vjiiTi/rt-iy. Press Association iftes&;:g*r i.nnounc» that the following buaiß*&s *Ptt iraasacted by Southern committees i~- ■- . ■.'•.."';'; Buller: The committed ■refifeed applies • lions for a new- license, 'st ■ iline Creek. Eleven o'clock extension* ?>'CJs granted where applied for. , ~-.. r:..-----iv ; - :> Nelson:-Before the Li:essi>3;; Bench. today, counsel for the pubik-fttw'-notified that it was not intended to a£.ply : .' 'or eleven o'clock extension. ten o'clock closing will rule tram fi&iA month. Timaru: All but three R~p ; :*:ntions for renewals of licenses were gs&tyad. The other cases have been adjoir<&6& to permit of repairs being carried -out to -i'as buildings. ;•■'.-.-' ]:\\ '$m