LICENSING COMMITTEE

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 35

LICENSING COMMITTEE

WAIKOUAITI.

The annual meeting of the "Waikouaiti Licensing Committee was heid m the Courthouse at Palmer^ton on Wednesday. Majoi Keddell, S.M. (chairman; presided, and the other members ot the committee present were : Rev. TV. Nicho., Messrs lhos Muir, B. W. Fell, and Jas. .Steven. An apology was re ceived from Mr G. Charlton. who was unablt io be present owing to an accident.

RENEWALS

The following renewals of publicans' licenses v/ere granted .—Frank Toomey, Seaciiff Hotel, Seachff ; Patrick Toomey, txo den Fleece HoteJ, Waikouaiti; John Coiehan, Saratoga Hotel, Waitati. James Matheson, Eailway Hotel, Waikouaiti ; Enuly Homer, Hanipden. Hotel. Hampden; Alexandria M'Donald, Waverley Hotel, Pa.merston ; Patrick MatthewCollins. North "Western Hotel, Palmc.ston ; Margaret Mewhinuey, Alexandra. Hotel, Shag Valley; Sarah Gilmour, Giimour's Hote.. Dunback; Wiilipni Scott Moir, Junction Hotel, Dunback; "William Edwin Griffin, United Kingdom Hotel, Macraes; Thomas Stanley, Stanley's Hotel, Macraes; Charles Burrell Pukeiwitahi Hotel, Shag Valley. ACCOMMODATION LICENSES.

Am accommodation license in lieu of a publican's license was granted to John Outred for the Eailway Hotel, Waianakarua, and to Ellen Les.ie, Waihemo Hotel, TVaihemo. Tlie Chairman said, m legard to the application for an accommodation license for the Eailway Hotel, Walanakarua. the committee was not satisfied thai the premises were the required distance — viz., five miles — from a licensed house. To meet this objection Mr Bailey, who appeared for applicant, tendered the evidence of Mr Outred and the local constable, and also put^ in the Eailway Guide. The committee then conferred and the application was granted, the fee being fixed at £10. The Chairman remarked that the committee was of opinion that the license fee of £25 previously paid was disproportionate ia the amount of biismess dene.

PUBLICAN'S LICENSE.

An application by John Ontred for a publican's license for the Eailway Hotel, Waianak* rua, was withdrawn, an application for an accommodation license for the same premise! having been granted. . APPEICATIOS TO REMOVE LICENSED PETSJIISES.

Frank Toomey, who filed an application foi leave to remove the Seacliff Hotel 27 chsim farther south, was granted permission to withdraw the request.

TJGHTIKG

The Chairman said the duty of keeping light burning at night had not been complieo. with in some cases as satisfactorily as the committee could wish. Jn one case it was stated that the local policeman had informed a licensee that it was not compulsory to keep a light burning after the premises were closed. That instruction, he desired to state, was a great mistake. The law specially provided for a light being kept burning outside licensed premises, and the committee wished him to say that such .ights must be of a kina that would be of service to the pub he and not the pin-point flickers that were often made to do duty. In country districts there was a great deal of travelling by night and it was necessary that traveller? shou'd have a light as a guide to a pl.ace -where they could get accommodation. The spirit of the law was that proper 'ights should be kept burning, and it was not sufficient to merely keep +he Ipttev o" the law.

Mr Irwm pointed out chat at the Taieri licensing meeting the committee had granted the application in all cases to extinguish lights when the premises were closed

The Chairman • The act provides for exemption in cases of boroughs or cities or places where, ir> the opinion of the committee, there is sufficient "igh* otherwise provided. But that is no* the c?se in country districts and there is rot statutory provision for dispensing with light« unless other lights exist in thi vicinity.