Licensing Committee.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4789, 5 September 1883, Page 3

Licensing Committee.

■*■ NOATH-WEST OHBISTOHUBOH. The quarterly masting of the Lioensing Oom-aoittoe for the North-west Ohristohuroh district was held at the Oity Oounoil Ohambers at noon to-day; present— Messrs 3. Anderson (Ohairman), 3. D. M'Pherson, B. Westenra, and E. Struthsra. Tho police report on the licensed houses in the district was laid on the table. Mr Joynt appeared io support of the application of Mr Parsonß, the lioenaee, for the approval of the Oommittee to the plans of the proposed Clarendon Hotel. Mr Louisson, proprietor of the (premises, explained the plans to the Oommittee. 'i he Ohairman aaid the Oommittee would like to hear definitely from Mr Louisson, when it was proposed to erect the new budding. Mr Joynt said that the time would depend very muoh on the ereotion of the proposed new theatre, for which negotiations were in progress. The Ohairman had understsod that the building was to be put up before the end of the ourrent year. Mr Joynt pointed out that the lioense had been granted on the understanding that plans were submitted at the next meeting. This had now been done. He asked the Committee to consent to the building being ereoted by the time of the next annual meeting. He would like to know what was the reason of the Oommittee for requiring new premises to be ereoted at onoe. The Ohairman replied that the reason simply was the need for a better building than the present, and of better aocommodation for the publio. Mr Joynt addressed the Committee at considerable length, urging that the state of the present building was suoh that the Oommittee had no power to cancel the lioense unless Mr Louisson began to build within a partioular time. The Ohairman replied that no threat of cancelling the license had been held out. Mr Joynt had not said that there had been. He desired, however, to point out that it vns ultra vires for the Oommittee to force Mr Louisson to bui-d within a oertain time. The Ohairman pointed out that the Committee had to look after the interests of the public. Mr Joynt admitted that it was their duty, but within cortain limits. The Ohairman eaid that the Committee did not altogether agree with Mr Joynt, but would be glad to hear what he had to say. Mr Joynt remarked that to hear what he had to say was one thing, but that paying attention to it was another. He proceeded to urge that the disoretion of the Committee, as proved by the recent case of the Woodend Oommittee, was limited to a oertain extent. He considered that the Oommittee would be acting to aome extent arbitrarily in compelling Mr Louisson to put up a new houae, when the present one was in good oondition, well furnished, and in all respeots suitable for the aooommodation of the publio. He submitted that by section 78 of the Licensing Act the Oommittee were bonnd to grant Mr Louisson a renewal, especially aa the application was, he would point out, on behalf of an old-established houae. The Ohairman said that with regard to the renewal of the license, no conditions oould, of course, be imposed until the next annual meeting. Mr Struthers said that the late Commissioners had pointed ont to Mr Wagner, tho former licensee, the necessity for a new building. At leaat, so the newapaper report aaid. | Mr Lomteon stated that Mr Harman, the Chairman of tbe Commissioners, had merely mentioned the matter in a half-joking way, and had told Mr Wagner that the building was getting old. Mr Wagner had grown quite angry at the idoa that any part of his premises wanted re-building. Mr Westenra said that he was one of the Commissioners at the timo, and romembered that their opinion was that a new house waß certainly required, as portions of the houae had been built many years ago. Mr Joynt said that any suoh matter should have been inoluded in written conditions. All tbaj had been said was simply from memory. Mr Louisson said that it seemed tp him that tho whole trouble arose from the faot that he was not willing to make promises whioh perhaps he would not be able to carry out. Se remarked that some persons were willing enough to make promises, which they were not at all careful about carrying out. All that he oould promise was that the new building would be in course of construction before the next annual lioensing meeting. The Oommittee retired to oonsider their deoiaion. After a retirement of about 20 minuteß, the Committee returned, and the Chairman said that the Oommittee had decided to adjourn the consideration of Mr Parson's plans until the next quarterly meeting, when they would expect some definite information as to when the building would be commenoed. In answer to the Chairman, Mr Louisson stated that the plans before the Oommittee were those whioh would be followed in any oase, subject, perhaps, to a few slight alterations in details. The Chairman said that if Mr Louisson wiabed togo on with the building in the meantime, the Committee would be glad to approve the plans. Mr Lcui»son said that no alterations would be made wilhout their being submitted to tbo Committee. This oonoluded the business, and the Com- j mittee adjourned.