CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4394, 27 June 1901, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS

LICENSING AFFAIRS. J

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.* 7 CHRISTCHURCH. June 26. The Christchurch Licensing Committee to-day had before it the adjourned applications for renewals of licenses for the Clarendon and Royal Hotels. The liccn. ses were "renewed conditional upon new buildings being erected, the plans lor which are to be submitted to the commit* tee by March next. In announcing this decision, Mr H. W. Pi shop, S.M., who presided, made the following remarks on the uncertainty of tenure of licenses: “The committee desire mo to say that while their duty to the public requires them to insist upon a better class of houses and improved accommodation, thereby necessitating a very largo expenditure of money on the part “of owners, they quite recognise that an apparent hardship may be indicted upon individuals, owing “to what may be properly termed the. uncertainty of tenure of licenses, due to the existing law. It is no part of the duty of the committee to criticise such law, but they do think, and they ask me. as their chairman, to voice their opinion, that they are placed in somewhat of a false position by being comnelled by their duty to the public to insist upon what may possibly result in “a serious hardship. Haying, after due consideration, entered upon their policy of improving the condition of the licensed houses in the city, they feel bound to carry it through with, out regard to individuals, and this “they will do; and therefore these two houses will be dealt with on “the same lines as the others.’' The question of providing hospital J ac* commodation for chronic eases came before the Hospital Trustees this morning, and Mr Kollin gave notice of motion as follows;—“That the board take steps to call a meeting of those local bodies which are interested in chronic and other cases, so that united action may be taken to bring the absolute necessity of providing acl commodation for chronic cases before the Government.”