A LICENSING MATTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 104, 15 June 1907, Page 6

A LICENSING MATTER.

.Concerning the "Cri."

There was some discussion at the annual meeting of. the Christchurch Licensing Committee regarding the conduct of tbe new Criterion Hotel, and an article ithat had appeared m "Truth"' said to 'refer to the matter.. It was a scorching, rod>-hot article, right enough, but no reference was made to any hotai m particular. However!, the authorities, while professing great ignorance, assumed at once that it was the new Criterion that was scarified m such an outspoken manner, and inquiries were at onco made into the conduct of the pubbery. Policemen marched m and out day and night ; as if there would be any peroaptible immorality, if immorality there ever had been, as alleged, visible. It wasn't, at any rate. However, owner, or lessee, Green got as wild as a meat-axe, and was wondering if ttoay were going to turn the show into a. police 1 depot. When the Criterion case was called on at the meeting of the- Committee, Chairman Bishop . at onco montioned '• '.Truth's" arbiclb, which caused such a sensation m the city. He said that certain statements, which wore common property, 'had been made regarding this hotel, and that . the poli,ce had been asked to make inquiries regarding their truth or otherwise. The aliegatio-ns made were very serious, and he could ' scarcely imagine anybody making jthem unless they had foundation m fact.

It-".was| Sub-Inspector Dwyer who had an investigation .instituted ; he hadn't seen 'the article the day after it was published m Ohristchurch. and had to geta copy post haste. It astounded him,. :but although there wer« members"of tho police force who could have given him some sort A information, he failed to elicit anythJißs; 'beyond the fact that .six . barmaids were employed there. He had been q.uite unable to find any support for the article or the reflections m it. '.. ' ,

In face of these observations the Committee decided to renew that precious license, the Chairman saying that <he didn't think the employment of half-a-do/sen.' barmaids would be cause for .such scandalous allegations.' They wouldksay no. more about it. So the Cri, under present management, 'has a fresh lease of life. Mrs Green, who is reputed to run the show, vt-as formerly a Mrs Guinness, and is related to Speaker Xrudnness, of the House of Representatives. She had the Susserc Hotel at Bunodiii, which was closed -down- when reduction struck that holy, pure merino city.;