WELLINGTON LICENSED HOUSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 64

WELLINGTON LICENSED HOUSES.

POLICE REPORT REVIEWED. WELLINGTON, June 8. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee to-day, in a brief review of lhe principal points in the police report, Mr \V. G. Riddell, S.M., said that during the year the supply of liquor to women, both in the open bar and for consumption off the premises, had decreased. In regard to the repair of the buildings the report showed that a great many buildings were not in a good state of repair, and it would be necessary to provide proper accommodation for the public. These buildings should be put into such a condition that there would lie no complaint about them. A number of minor defects could undoubtedly be remedied easily, but in some cases the defects were substantial, and repairs must be carried out before the licenses could be gx-anted. In some cases the report showed that the buildings were so oid as practically to be past renovation, but until new buildings were erected they must be put into habitable condition. In some cases again, the accommodation for the public did not comply with the statutory requirements. It would be necessary for the licensees to make satisfactory arrangements during the time they occupied the house. The report of the sub-inspector stated that with few exceptions the conduct of lhe licensed houses during the past 12 months had been good. A small number of licensees were proved to have been trading during prohibited hours. These had been dealt with by way of prosecution before the court. During the past quarter the conduct of the offending licensees had improved considerably. In regard to the Licensee of the Shamrock Hotel his conduct had not been satisfactory, and the police had had to pay special attention to bis house of late. At midnight recently two men were caught coming out of this hotel, one being in a state of intoxication. Both had been convicted and fined for being illegally on the premises. At the afternoon session the committee heard an application for the renewal of the license of the Shamrock Hotel. This was opposed by the police. Counsel for the applicant submitted that the decision of Mr E. Page, S.M., acquitted the applicant of the charge of drunkenness. He had held a license in Otaki for some 18 months, and there had been no complaints by tbe police. After considering tbe matter the committee decided to grant tlie application. The chairman mentioned that the police report from Otaki was to the effect that the applicant occasionally took rather much liquor. Evidently that was borne out in the present case. The committee, in granting a renewal, desired to point out that the licensee must control himself in taking liquor, otherwise he might not be so fortunate in his next application.