PIE CART PROBLEM

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22935, 4 July 1944, Page 4

PIE CART PROBLEM

Temporary Licence Glinted A temporary licence is to be granted by the Timaru Borough Council to Mr T. L. Cranwell, proprietor of the present coffee stall in Strathallan street, on certain conditions. A licence for a coffee stall is also to be granted to Mr C. J. Cooke, subject to a suitable site being decided upon by the Works Committee. Cr. C. E. Thomson reported to a meeting of the Council last night that Mr and Mrs cranwell had waited on the Committee and the question had been fully discussed. The points suggested in the motion which he intended to move had been mentioned, but Mr and Mi's Cranwell had not actually seen them in writing. They had offered no objection to the suggestions. Cr. A. 8. Kinsman expressed surprise that the question of the pie cart had been again raised. He had a lot of sympathy with Mr and Mrs cranwell, but his experience over many years had been that a pie cart, open at all hours of the night, no matter who was conducting it, caused a good deal of worry to occupiers of adjacent premises. Some years ago there had been a pie cart in front of the Council Chambers and there had been no end of trouble. He opposed any suggestion that' there should be a second pie cart. Cr. J. M. Jenkins claimed that the whole Council should know all the details. The Committee had invited Mr and Mrs Cranwell to confer with them on then- own volition and was also prepared to make certain recommendations both in regard to the Strathallan Street Pie cart and the application for a licence by Mr Cooke. The Council was entitled to know both sides of the story. He also asked why it was proposed that the licence fee should be increased from £2 to £lO/10/- per annum.

The Town Clerk (Mr E. A. S. Killick) said that, if the pie cart proprietor occupied a shop, he would have to pay at least £5O a year in rent. He thought that £lO/10/- Was not unreasonable. Cr. W. L. Richards: The £lO/10/seems as if we are tawing to put a little sting into these people. They serve the people who wish to frequent coffee stalls.

Cr. W. H. Hall said that he was in favour of a second pie cart, as competition would result in the least efficient giving up business.

Cr. Kinsman referred to a proposal to open an all-night restaurant in Stafford Street. The man concerned had had alterations made to the premises in readiness to commence business, but he understood that the proprietors of the other restaurants had protested to the Rationing Controller against his being allowed to open, with the result that no permit for foodstuffs was forthcoming. Cr. Hall said that the Council should protest against such a high-handed action. In effect, the decision meant that, if any man wished to open a business, his competitors could combine and protest to the authorities and prevent him securing a licence. It' was agreed that the Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) should write to the Food Controller on the subject. After further discussion the following motions proposed by Crs. Thomson and R. S. Wheeler were carried:—

“That a temporary licence be granted to Mr Cranwell for the pie cart on the following conditions: (a) That as this is the third warning it be clearly understood that it is the final one; <b> That the continuance of the licence is subject to good reports as to both cooking and selling conditions by the Sanitary Inspector; (c) That the licensee be responsible for clearing up all litter at the C.F.C.A. Ltd. garage; (d) That the inspector report on conditions at the end of every three months.” “That the C.F.C.A. Ltd. be informed that as a result of an exhaustive inquiry into alleged nuisances arising in the vicinity of the coffee stall, the cause of complaint is only indirectly attributable to the licensee of the stall. It is suggested, therefore, that a portable wire fence would tend to avoid future causes for complaints.” On the motion of Crs. Thomson and F. Chittock it was decided: “That the application by Mr C. G. Cooke for a pie cart licence be granted subject to a suitable site being decided on by the Works Committee.” The following amendment by Crs. Jenkins and Richards was lost: “That a report be obtained as to the necessity of a second pie-cart in Timaru.” Notice of motion was given that the annual licence fee for coffee stalls should be £lO/10/-.