LICENSING COMMITTEE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 6

LICENSING COMMITTEE

CONDITIONS IN EGMONT. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The annual meeting of the Egniont Licensing Committee was held nt Elthara yesterday, there being present Messrs. R. W. Tate, S.M. (chairman), M. O’Brien, T. C. Stauners, T. P. Hughson, C. E. Rowe and N. C. Innes.

Sergeant Henry referred to the installation of fire alarms in hotels, stating that at the meeting of the Patea Licensing Committee the police reported that fire alarms had been installed in all Wanganui hotels. The alarms had been found to be very satisfactory and. the Patea bench held that all hotels in that district should also be fitted with alarms. The sergeant said he would like to know what the Egniont committee desired. He said that conveniences should be lighted to the hour of 6 p.m. in winter. The chairman said licensees had had no previous intimation regarding tire alarm bells and it was not known what these would cost. Before acting they would like to know what the precise cost would be, and he asked each licensee to make an estimate of the cost of fitting his hotel as required. The matter would then be considered. The committee considered it desirable that convenience lights should be on till C p.m. The following applications for licenses were granted: A. E. Brunette, Club Hotel, Opunake; Edward John Bullock, Manaia Hotel; Charles Edward Brooke, Okato Hotel (accommodation license). The present temporary license of Jane Hickey for the Normanby Hotel was extended for three months, the application for a. permanent license being adjourned until the water supply was satisfactory. It was stated that the well water had proved unsatisfactory but that a new well had been sunk. If this were found to be unsatisfactory tanks would have to be put in. The licensee and the health officer were acting in conjunction and everything would be done to ensure compliance with requirements. A similar condition existed in regard to the Commercial Hotel, Normanby, but there were plenty of tanks and the license was renewed to Henry Mulholland on the understanding that tank water end not well water would be used.

Lionel Ernest Thomson was granted a renewal of license for the Commercial Hotel, Manaia. It was stated that he proposed to use one of the downstairs rooms as a. temporary bar during jubilee week. Sergeant Henry said that Constable Scannell considered further bar accommodation was unnecessary. There had been talk in the town that the police would give a • certain amount of liberty during jubilee week, said the sergeant, but he assured the committee that as far as the police were concerned there would be no letting up of the Licensing Act and there would be no such thing as “open house.” Percy M. Havill was granted a renewal of license for the Waimate Hotel, Manaia. Sergeant Henry remarked that since the conviction of the licensee for selling after hours the house had been conducted in a satisfactory manner. When Arthur J. Mack’s application for renewal of the license of the Okaiawa Hotel was considered Sergeant Henry said that in connection with one of the boarders having been convicted of supplying liquor one point was that the licensee had handed over the keys. He thought it was most dangerous for a licensee to hand over the keys of the bar. Counsel said that the hotel was well conducted and the application was granted. The shortage of water during two months of the year was a complaint made by Inspector Swindells regarding the Rahotu Hotel. Owing to this some of the lavatories had to be closed. If they pumped water during the dry period they would get over the difficulty. A renewal of license to Edwin D. Whittle was granted on the understanding that the question of providing the necessary water was settled. A. 0. Casey was granted a renewal in respect of the Central Hotel, Eltham. Sergeant Henry referred to one Novak having made use of the hotel for the purposes of bookmaking. The licensee apparently had “slipped a little” in not making an effort to keep him off; otherwise he was a very good licensee. Since Novak’s conviction he had not frequented the place. The chairman said that licensees must do all possible to prevent bookmakers using their premises. It was realised that licensees sometimes had a difficult position, but bookmakers were generally, known and it was expected of licensees that they keep them off the premises. The committee felt that there was no reason to say anything in this particular case and the application would be granted. Renewals were granted as follows: Aeneas Gallagher, Dominion Hotel, Kaponga; Richard S. Jenkin, Opunake Hotel; Edward Andrews, Otakeho Hotel; Harold L. Kasper, Eltham Hotel; Ernest Crabtree, Coronation Hotel, Eltham; John Glengarry, accommodation license, Oeo Hotel; Charles Bond, accommodation license, Oakura Hotel; Geo. H. Mann, wholesale license, Eltham. A transfer of the Okato Hotel from T. J. Riordan to C. E. Brooke was granted. Fees and lighting conditions were fixed at the same figures as at present.