NELSON LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14195, 6 June 1916, Page 3

NELSON LICENSING COMMITTEE.

ANNUAL'MEETING.,

THREE APPLICATIONS ADJO UHNEIV.

The '•■annual meeting of the Nelson Licensing Committee was held jesteriay. - Present: Messrs. J. S. Evans, S.M. (chairman), J. C. Mercer, P. Best,: W. N. Franklyn, E. E. Trask, and T., Pettit.' \ , , Messrs. C. J. Harley, J. P. Hayes, E. B. Moore, A. C: Magimrity. ,audC R. Fell appeared in support of, the various applications; \ Senior-Sergeant B-arrett, Inspector of Licensed Houses/ reported that the hotels throughout the district were .well; conducted, with the exception of thePelorus Hotel, in regard to which the* police lodged an 'objection on the ground of permitting drunkenness.^ The'report of the Health Department's, inspector (Mr. H. Coltman) stated that at several of the hotels, small matters required attention at the time, of his visit. The police reported that most of these had since either been attended to or were in hand. The Inspector reported that the Golden Fleece Hotel was repainted and renovated throughout about two y^ars ago to the 1 satisfaction of the Licensing Bench * and the place is kept extremely clean, but to attempt further repairs would be a- y/aste of money. It was the owner's intention to rebuild next year, and before that if circumstances were favourable.. Application for a transfer was granted as follows-.—Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond, J. E. Barham to P. G.Beaton (also new license). ;v ** , Applications for new licenses were granted - as follows: —A. Gustafson, Custom House Hotel; W. T. Moxey, Panama ; R. A. ; Scott, Masonic. T. M. Brenuan, Eoyal;F. Koche. Pier. ■ When the application for a renewal of the license for the Exchange Hotel was called on, Mr. Pet'tit asked if the owner had not undertaken to present plans for a new building at that meet-, ing. Mr. Moore said that, but for the increased cost of building material, plans would have been nresented. Mr. Pettit expressed strong dissatisfaction with the reasons given for the plans not being prepared. A new building was badly needed. The application was then held over until other applications had been disposed of. There being a police objection against the renewal of the license for the Pelorus Hotel, this matter was also adjourned until after lunch. The application for a. renewal of the license of the Golden Fleece Hotel was also deferred, on the motion of Mr. Pettit. During the luncheon hour the committee visited the Golden Fleece i Hotels and on resuming, The chaiiman moved that the application be refused on the ground that the house was out of repair. Mr. Pettit, in seconding the motion, expressed satisfaction that the committee was prepared to deal with the matter. Mr. Fell, for the owner, pointed out that no notice had been given of the intention of the committee. The/ chairman said the owner was entitled to notice. Mr. Fell said that the hotel was one of tiie cleanest. The chairman: That is so. (Mr. Pettit:. Hear, hear.) Mr. Fell said that the step was a very drastic one. There was no evidence that the hotel was insanitary and unfit for occupation, and he considered the action of the committee exceedingly, harsh. It was impossible to build a iiew hotel within six months. The. chairman said the committee had been ; through the house, and it was in a state of disrepair. ! Mr. Pettit; Beyond repair. . ; Mr.' Fell said there must be some evidence. ' The chairasan : We have the evidence, C? our eyes. Mr. Fell said it was extraoi-dinaty. to have such a thi^q; sprung on them. The chairman said it was not. sprung on them. Ever since he had been on the Bench there had been promises of plans and renovations, and nothing had been done. Mr. Fell said that after the meeting before last a lot of money was spent in repairs. The chairman said the owner lining entitled to notice, the mattev wonW be adjourned until June 16th, at 2 p. in. On the application for a license for *>he Exchange Hotel being called upon, Mr. Moore, for the owner, said the bouse was not out of repair, and the BoiJce report was satisfactory. TFio o-wiier had carried out the committee'srequirements, and had spent a good j <{ph\ of money besides. Mr. Moor« { •j-iid it w-rts the genuine intention of , the owner to rebuild. Mr. Pettit moved that the license be not granted, on the same grounds as the previous application. He said that the committee were promised last year that plans would be submitted at this meeting for.a. new hotel. *n reolv to. Mr. Mercer, the chairman said there was no evidence that thr> hotel was out of repair. The application was then adjourned to June 16th, to enable the committee to inspect the premises. Thomas Geary applied for a license for the, Pc'brus H_oteL Canvastown. The police objected on the grounds that there were two convictions for permitting drunkenness and one for Sunday trading against the applicant." Mr. Moore appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Harley for the owner and. mortgagees. The convictions were admitted by Mr. Moore. ■ Mr. Pettit moved that the application be refused on the ground that the applicant was not fit to hold a license. Mr. Moore rut in letters from a number of residents of the district, including n clergyman and a schoolmatfcer, also a testimonial signed by one hundred residents, stating that the hotel was well conducted by the applicant. He pointed out in* regard to tin* convictions that the applicant was not the guilty party, although of (•oi;r-;o ho was responsible. Evidence was given by F. W. -Fairev ('of Nelson), G. Diamanti (farmer, of Pelorus), G. Humphreys (for six years at .Golden Yla.ii), arj W. Ahem (farmer. of Pelonrs). wHinh showed that the ap•pjicnnt ?>a«l conducted the house woil' in difficult; instances. One witness expressed the opinion that" if tit ere was ;y police officer at Canvnstown it would heh> the licensee, as 'the inincrs .vrora at times difficult "to deal v<it.h. . ■.'.'. Jvcr. ]].p~t said that to give the ap~ pJ.'Cjjrit a ehanca he Avpuld move that the rinplic.'svtion b© adjourned for three. mouths1: The committee would then see how the* house was conducted dnrnvj that period: . . i 'Sir. Trask seconded the motion-.-

Mr. Pettit moved that tho application be refused, on- the grounds that the convictions' were - proof that the applicant had nofc' sufficient control over the house and the committee had no confidence in him.£ The chairman seconded the amendment.

The amendment was losl. Ayes: Mr Pefctit and the chairman. Noes: Messrs. (Mercer, Best, Frauklyn, and Trank. The motion Avas then carried.

Renewals were granted in all othei .cases. - ..'■": ..• '. ••' - ,'

The meeting then adjourned until Monday, \ September 4th, at" 11.30 a.m. •■■'■.-: