TAIERI LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 88

TAIERI LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The adjourned meeting of the Taicri Licensing Committee was lield at the courtfa 0u93, "Mosgiel, on Friday, Mt H. Y. Widdowson, S.M.. presiding.' There -were also present on the bench — Messrs Dow, Kirkland, Shand, Dr "Will, and the Rev. Mr Boreham. Applications for renewals adjourned pending tfco making of pertain improvements as to fire escapes, etc.; were granted in the following cases, causes of complaint having been remedied to the satisfaction of the committee: — Margaret Braun, Outram Hotel, Ontram; W. Knott, Railway Hotel, Mosgiel; Alexander M'Donald, Clark's Junction (accommodation Ucense). WHITE HOUSE. HENLET. Amos M'Kegg applied for the renewal of his license for the White House, Henley. — Mr Haribn (instructed by Messrs Fraeer and M&cassey) appeared for the applicant. The Chairman urtinia-ied that a petition against the gran-ting of the license, on the ground that a licensed houee -was not required in the district, was informal, the act of 1895 providing that a petition on such a ground could not stand.

Mr Hanlon said that the Licensing Committee was a judicial body, and in dealing with 'the questions of reductions, sub-section (c) of section 8 of the act of 1895 provided that the committee which made such reductions to extend over the whole district in such ms/nnor as 't thinks equitable should have regard to the convenience of the public and the particular requirements of the several localities within the district. Therefore, in urging before the committee that the license of the Whi+o House shonld be renewed, he apprehended that he had to make clear to the committee that if the convenience of the publio was to be considered, with the particular" requirements of th« locality, ibis license should be granted. He wou'.d point out that this was practically -the -only tourist resort in and ?round Dunedin. In connection with the house there was established a ferry service from Henley to the "mouth, covering a very picturesque piece of country, and one which had very great attractions, not only for residents of the colony, but- also for visitors. It must be born« in mind moreover, J that the Government was expending very _large sums in fostering the tourist traffic) whicli was a source of undoubted profit to the colony as a. whole, and it was, he submitted, . unwise that this, the only tourist trip in and about Duneclm, should be interfered with. It might b° argued that the removal of a license would not interfere with the conduct of the house, but he would point out that this iiouse offered a marked contrast to the majority of licensed houses throughout the colony, in that whatever profit was made in the bar was expended in the improvement arid upkeep of the house, and in the maintenance of a first-cI«3S table. This degree of excellence could not be maintained were the license removed. It was furthermore ft well-known fact that the majority o! tourists preferred to visit a house with a license. That fact was recognised by the Tourist Department. This particular house had been licensed for over 30 years. Since the death of the late Mt M'KLegg every penny that the family had been able to lay th^ir hands upon had been expended upon improving and adding to the house, and it was no exaggeration to say that ii this licens* was taken away they would be absolutely ruin«d. However, that in itself was no argument to adduce to the committee; it was only mentioned in order to emphasise the fact that a license was essential to the maintenance of this house at its present standard, and that if it fell below that standard, it ceased to supply the want it supplied «t present. It was largely visited by all classes of residents in Dunedin, who found there all the comforts of a home, and all the privacy and quiet of a private house. Now, let them pass from th© tourist aspect of the question, and think of the local requirements. Th© licensee makes provision for travelling stock, and his house was largely used as a house of call for farmers and drovers on the road. In that respect it supplied a decided w«nt, and a large number of witnesses would bo called (all respectable men of standing in the district) who would testify to the necessity of such a. house. He would turn for a- moment and deal with the matter fTom the prohibition point of view — that was to say, would the removal of this license decrease the sale of drink through.-

out the district?" Reference had been made to tho fact of the Native reserve being ta close contiguity to this house, and that. fact has received public reference, with the result that the Natives were greatly pained at the public suggestion that their moral- tone was depreciated by the proximity -of this license. Tho Na.tives of Henley were for the most part a we'd-condnoted class. They were, moreover, a. temperate class; and although it was probable that earns one or more of them, when they feit inclined to take -a stimulant of some kind, took it at Henley. It was certain that under no. circumstances, even if they desired to exceed, wou 7 d they be allowed to do so. But the fact "was that they were temperate, and there was not the slightest necessity of safeguarding them by the removal of this license. For the rest of the population, they were, with one or two exceptions, a temperate body of men. Unfortunately, there was always one or more intemperate drinkers in every, community, but care had been invariably exercised that no encouragement should be given to any such person -to over-indulge at Henley. He had avoided drawing distinctions between this house and other houses that were threatened in the district. He did not think that it would be fair for him to advance any arguments against granting a license to any other hcuse in the community, and he did not do so; but he did unhesitatingly affirm, and strongly urge upon the committee, that for the "sake of the public, and in order to meet the particular requirements of this district, the license of the White House, Henley, should be gramted. No argument could be seriously advanced- against this house ; nothing could be said against its conduct, and no reason put forth why its license should be taken away. He said I now proceed to call a large number of witnesses, chosen at haphazard itom tho Taieri Plain, in the vicinity of this house. They would be known to the committee, who were the best judges of the value of their testimony.

B. R. Stock, manager of the A.M.P. Society Dunedin, said that he had stopped at the White House frequently, and had always found ii to be admirably conducted.

James Shiel (of Nimnio and Blair, Dunedin), said that he had frequently stayed at the house with his wife and family. The accommodation was good, and the house well furnished. He had seen absolutely no signs of drunkenness about the place, which always seemed to him to be admirably conducted. If his wife needed a holiday at any time, he would be pleased to send her to this house, and would feel that she was saie while under the care of Mrs" M'Kegg and her family. Evidence to the same effect was given by Alexander Roberts (of Murray, Roberts, and Co.. Dunedin) and R. Gosage (stock inspector at Mosgiel). Henry George, livery stable keeper at Berwick, said he frequently visited the White House. It yas conducted very well. He had seen no signs of excessive drinking about the place — no rowdyism, or anything of the sort. M'Kegg was not the sort of man to encourage drinking. Witness never had a drink with M'Kegg in his life. M'Kegg refused to drink the only time witness ever aaked him to. "He never shouted for me in his life, aud I have run him a good few bob down there." — (Laughter in court.) " The last time I aEked him to have a drink, he said he'd hold my horse and I could go ar.d have a drink on my own." Evidence to the same general effect wa? given by Robert Robinson, farmer at Otokia. who said he had seen no Tsatives encouraged to drink at the White House. Alexander Moynihan, of Momona, deposed that he visited the White House pretty well every week when driving cattle backward and forward. He found the hotel a great convenience. He often had to camp there at night. He found every convenience and comfort at the hotel. The taking away of the license would cause a serious loss to the travelling public and the drovers. He had never yet seen a drunken man about the place — nor any man with a sign of drink on him, for that matter. Mr M'Kegg did not force the liquor part of his trade. Witness had never actually slept in the house, but he found the table splendid. There was a paddock for yarding cattle, and that was a great convenience. Witness was not a drinking man. He took a drink, perhaps, once a month ; perhaps not so often. But many a time when droving along by Henley a man would get wet through a, dozen times over. Cattle could only be driven very slowly, and if a man got a drop of whisky when he wa3 wet to the bone, it set him up and put his blood in circulation again. — (Laughter in court.) . On several occasions it had saved witness s life up at Henley. — (Renewed laughter.) Further evidence to the good conduct and management of the house was given by Robert Arthur Webster, James Thomas Gibson, James Miller, and Peter Leifch. These : witnesses all visited the houses frequently, and had seen no drunkenness on the part of European or Native residents. i John. Connor, farmer at Henley, said he was Native assessor in the district. The Native Teserve was near the White House, and witness knew the house pretty well. There were five Maoris on the reserve, and : 10 half-castes, including women and children. Theie was no excessive drinking among the Natives as a consequence of the hotel at Henley. Witness had ample opportunity of judging whether the Natives drank execs- i sively. When the Natives met a European friend they might have a drink like other ( people ; but they did not drink to excess. J The Natives had always paid their way while \ witness had been in the district — 40 years. Witness thought the White House was wellconducted; m fact, it was too good for the place.— (Laughter in court.) Witness had found the house a convenience in cases of i sickness. The M'Keggs were very good that way. Witness had known them come down to the kaik at midnight to see if anythiug was needed, when there was sickness there. He did not believe that the White House could possibly be doing any harm to the lew Xarive3 left in the reserve. i The Chairman: Then I understand that! there is no excessive drinking among the Maoris? The Witness: 2\o, sir. At one time there were two hotels there, one on each side, and I saw no drunken Natives. these remarks of your 3as regards Natives not drinking refer to recent years only, or do they extend to the whole 40 years'— To the 10 years. Of course, in the o!den times they neither handed it nor drunk it— the most of them It is only the young race who go in and have a glass when they meet a European — principally the halfcastes. Mr H«n"on- And I suppose if they can't get it at Hexilev, they'll get it .soicewhere else? Tho Witness: Oh, yes Mr Boreham : Supposing you were told that it was alleged that some years ago drinking was very prevalent among tho Maoiis at Henley — what would you ?a3'? The Witness- I have never teen it in mv time. There might be one or two new ar.d then ; bu£ not as a vrhole. '

Henry Martin, a. full Maori, said he was a labourer at Heiiley.. Did. all &grta ol tbiug?,

Was sinking artesian wells just now. He hail worked at road-making, engine-driving, and so- on. He knew the* White House quite well. He was 41, and was born on the Henley reserve. Had seen no excessive drinking of • liquor among the Natives at Henley. ! Mr Hanlon: Has there been any drunkeni ness amongst those Natives during the last ! few years, within your knowledge? The Witness: No, not to my knowledge. There is no doubt that they have a drink now and then. Sometimes they go to town, and I have seen them come from town worse than they ever were at Henley. Mr M'Kegg never gives the least encouragement to any Native to drink at his place. George Brown, a halfnca^te, said he lived on the Henley reserve, and knew the White House well. There was no excessive drinking of liquor there amongst the Maoris. Mr Hanlon : Is the Native race going to the bad through drinking there? The Witness : Kb, not that I know of. I have passed there often, {his last .month or two especially, and I never saw any Native about the place a>£ all. The Chairman : You never saw Natives drunk there, or under the influence of drink? The Witness : No. John M'Corkindale. farmer at Otokia: ; Knew M'Kegg's hotel. Was practicably a j neighbour. The house was well-conducted. { clean, tidy. He ha<l seen no signs of drunkenness about the place, and could see no objection to it. He had lived about there for 30 years. Amos M'Kegg, the applicant, examined by ths Chairman: There were ropes provided in the rooms where it was necessary to have fire escapes. A balcony ran nearly the whole way round the house. There were always t;vo or three ladders handy, but no ladder permanently attached. He ran a. steam launch to the Taieri Mouth. The launch left as soon as possible after the arrival of -the morning train. Sometimes people wanted sandv/iche3 put up, when they found that no provisions wore obtainable at the Mouth Tiio Chairman: 'Is it true that you keep ihem in Henley for an hour and a-half after the aivival of the truin? The "Witness- No; if T did that they would rot come back, end I want them to come ( back. We start as soon as possible after tbo arrival of the train. Certainly not more than half an hour after. On returning at night sometim«3 there 's a delay at Hjenley for passengers bound north, as the train, south leaves at 5 40, and wo have lo catch that frain. Of course, when wo have private parties they .■rake their own arrangements.

Do you ever havo complaints fiom Dunedin people about being kept in Henley an hour or an hour and a-half at night? — Not direct complaints. There is room for complaint, because I must run in connection with the two train*.

The express doesn't stop at Henley? — No; unfortunately not. By Mr Boreham: He always tried to suit ♦he convenience of his clients — to meet the wishes of the gro-ite" number. On holidays the department ran excursion trains, and express also stopped. There were often aa n-.sny people fioni the south as from Dunedin, and often there were more. "

The Chairman: If it is alleged that ch»ldien or younjj people are forced into the bar to buy " soft " drinks, what do yen say ? The Witness: I never think of letting young children go into the bar; I never allow :t. Thera is a private part of the house for tLem.

Mr Hanlon : I suppose that you would serv° either alcoholic or soft drinks in any part of the houce?

The Witness: Certainly. I never permit young children to go to the bar; most distinctly not. The btation is from a quarter to half a mile friin the house, and most of the visitor* wa'k over. I run this boat down :o the Taieri Mouth to make money. I run it as a business, lo make Henley a popular losort. The move people that come the better it is for m". I run the thing in the way that 1 think is best to encourage the trade. There is aot the slightest reason for the suggestion that I try to get people back to Henley early, in order to make them drink. Drinking is not encouraged by me at Henley: that is not my object.

The Chairman (the committee having de],berated) said: In connection with this hotel we havo heard a great deal of evidence this morning; and while the committee believes that the witnesses have given their evidence honestly and frathfully according to their knowledge, at the same time it is of opinion that the hotel is not conducted in such a satisfactory manner as the committee would hs made to believe. The committee, I might say at once, has decided to grant the license ; but there will have to be some improvement in the way in which the hotel is conducted. The committee car not shut, its eyes to the fact that therd is a certain amount of drunkenness going on in the district, and that certainly will have to be put o. stop to. And the committee cannot shut its eyes to the fact that this launch is not run as it should ba for the" convenience of the public. The enly inference that can be drawn is that it is run as an auxiliary to the hotel in Henley — to the drinking portion of the hotel. I do not think it is necessary for me to say^-any more. I have no doubt that Mr M'Kegg will consider his own interest in the future. In regard to the fire escapes, it appears from the police report that the house is provided with rope 3. Mr M'Kegg says there is a balcony round three sides of the house ; but to thai balcony fixed ladders must be provided — fixed so that they can be used <xt one© wh.?n required.

Mr Hanlcn wished to know if the committee suggested that Mr M'Kegg was responsible for the alleged drunkenness in the district. Eecause iho evidence seemed to show that there was so drunkenness about the hotel. Surely apart from that, the licensee was not lesponsible for any supposed drunkenness :u the distric?

The- Ciiirman- I should ha-e said in the neighbourhood of the hotel.

Mr Hanlon said ths evidence given in disproof of that presumption seemed clear enough. However, Mr M'Kegg would doubtless sea that he was not responsible for any drunkenness that might take place. As to the running of the boat .

The Chairman That is only an opinion, of course, an'l tha licensee has a perfect right to bring endence to rebut that opinion.

Mr Hanlon said that Mr M'Kegg-, if adriEed by him, would natural^' endeavour to follcv out the wishes of the committee in every po? Mble respect. But he would, of course, liks to have something tcngibie to go on If the committee knew of anything it was only fair that M/ M'Kegg should be informed.

Th? Chairman ejid the only tangible thing that could be suggested was that it would be better if Mr M'Kegg were to run his launch so as no* to permit such lengthy delay at Hew lev.

Mr 'Hanlon: Wo «ki]l Eec that that is attended to.

The Chairman said that everything was excellent otherwise. Nothing could be suggested ag.unst the hotel.

COACH AND HOESES,

Jolin Taiifey applied for the renewal of his license for the Coach and Horses Hotel, Saddle HiLJ. Mr Hanlon for the applicant.

Mr Hanlon said that the house occupied a position so excellent that it would suit a

sanatorium The place afforded a convenience to drovers ar>d others. There were paddocks for stock. He put in a numerouslysigned memorial in favour of the license. License refused, on the statutory ground that the house was not needed. GREEN ISLAND. Michael O'Ha-lloran applied for a renewal of his license for the Green Island Hotel. Mr Hanlon for the applicant. The Chairman: Ine committee has decided that this application shall be granted; but the committee is not at all satisfied with the way this man conducts the hotel. It may probably be because the licensee is a single man. Well, I hope that will be remedied forthwith. Mr Hanion: The applicant has the matter in hand, but I cannot say "" forthwith." Mr Justice Cooper only the other day pointed out the danger of hasty and ill-considered merriages. The Chairman : " Forthwith " means within a reasonable time. Mr Hanlon : 1 understand that he is already paving the way. — (Laughter.) The Chairman : "Unless there is very marked improvement the committee will take a very serious objection to his having the license in future. Mr Hanlon undertook that certain requirements as to fire escapes should be met. License granted. COMMERCIAL. GHEES ISLAND Adam Houston apolied for a lenewal of his license for the Commercial Hotel, GreenIsland. Mr Callan, jun. (for the applicant), undertook to make necessary improvements in regard to fire escapes. License granted. KAIKOH M JTTNCTTOJr. John Ross applied for a renewal of his license for the Kaikorai Junction Hotel, Cattle Yard 3. Mr Allen for the applicant. The Chairman said that under the authority given lo the committee for the reduction of licenses this license would be refused, on the statutory grounds. License refused. CRESCENT, ALLANTON. James O'Donnell applied for a renewal of his license for the Ciesccnt Hotel, Allanton. Mr Finch for the applicant. Mr Finch strongly contended that the license was necessary. The nearest hotelo ■were five miles in one direction, and eight miles in the other. License refused. j An application for transfer filed in connection with this house lapsed accordingly.