POSITION IN WAITOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19344, 3 June 1926, Page 12

POSITION IN WAITOA.

OBJECTIONS TO LICENSE. . PETITION NOT ADMISSABLE THE APPLICATION ADJOURNED. [by telegraph,—special reporter.] PAEROA, Wednesday. Objection to the granting of a license for a hotel at Waitoa was discussed when the application was heard before the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee at Paeroa to-day. The application was made by Mary Blakeley Montgomery, who was formerly in the hotel business in Karangahake, and it was stated by her counsel, Mr, H. L. Cooney, that she proposed to erect a new building at Waitoa to house the license. . A memorial objecting to the granting of this license was lodged on behalf of 467 residents of Waitoa, and Mr. G. P. Gilchrist appeared in support.* Mr. Cooney objected to the memorial on the grounds that it did not contain any of the objections specified in section 91 of the Act. After some argument the coftimittoe ruled out the memorialMr. Gilchrist said residents objected to the granting of a license in an area remote from places where licenses formerly existed. It was not desired that there should be an hotel close to the dairy factory where 75 men were employed. The chairman, Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., said there was also a counter memorial signed by a number of people. If the committee allowed itself to be guided by the number of signatures on these petitions they would be countenancing a restricted local option poll. The committee obviously could 'not do that. In case the claim for preference should not bo admitted Mr. Cooney called evidence showing the central situation of Waitoa, its position on the junction of main highways, and the need for accommodation for the travelling public at this point.

Mr. Gilchrist asked for permission to call local residents who were present to give evidence against these representations, but the chairman said it was unfortunate that there was an anomaly in the Act which', while permitting Mr. Cooney to bring evidence in support of his application, precluded opponents from stating their objections. He indicated, however, that the committee fully understood the situation. The application was adjourne'd.