WELLINGTON LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3145, 24 June 1914, Page 6

WELLINGTON LICENSING COMMITTEE.

WELLINGTON, Juno 12. The Licensing Committee to-day considered the deferred application of J, T. Foley for a renewal of the license of the Cricketers’ Arms Hotel. Mr J. J. M'Grath attended on behalf of the licensee, and Superintendent Ellison appeared for the police. The application for renewal was originally made at the annual meeting of the committee on June 1, when the police alleged that the hotel was frequented by women of an undesirable character. Mr Foley expressed his willingness to have the case hoard then, but in accordance with the Licensing Act the hearing was adjourned. It.was submitted by Mr M'Grath that the proceedings were improper, and even illegal. Ho inquired of the chairman, whether there was any objection to granting a renewal of the license. The applicant had not received any notice of an objection, and the fact of the house being frequented too much by prostitutes, even if that were so, was, he contended, no ground for objection. He quoted the case of Penny v. the Wairoa Licensing Committee in support of his contention. The Cricketers’ Arms Hotel was in a peculiar position in the city, and the same sort of customers could not be expected there as in the Hotel Cecil, for example. No allegation had"previously been made as to the conduct of the hotel. He asked for. unconditional renewal of the license. The Chairman: But that is not the only question, Mr-M'Grath. On four occasions persons have been found on the premises on Sunday. ' Superintendent Ellison said that section 60 of the Act required him to make a report on the manner in which the house was conducted in the past 12 months. If a ease were brought in the Magistrate’s Court it would have to be proved that reputed prostitutes waited longer on the promises thaai was necessary to obtain refreshments. This would hardly be practicable. He did not oppose the renewal of the license, but asked for permission to call evidence to show how the house was conducted. Mr Foley might leave the hotel and apply for a new house, and the police would have no evidence that the Cricketers’ Arms had been badly conducted. The number of drunken women brought from that end of the town showed that some hotel in that quarter was catering for them. The Chairman; The committee adjourned this application because it was under the impression that the superintendent had fresh evidence to produce. However, the police report showed that there was no objection raised to the renewal, but the superintendent desired to justify his statements about the manner in which the house was conducted; The committee did not consider that necessary. Superintendent’s Ellison’s remarks were made and accepted bona fide, and it was for the licensee to conduct his house as well as he could. Proper notice must be given lor an objection, and as there was none, the commit toe would grant the renewal.