CITY COUNCIL UNABLE TO GIVE EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1950, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL UNABLE TO GIVE EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION

Regret that the Licensing Control Commission’s sittings which had been set down for November 28 In Wanganui could not be postponed, as having begun its task of redistributing licences throughout New Zealand the Commission must proceed with its review with the utmost expediency, was expressed by the secretary of the Commission in a letter to the Wanganui City Council at its meeting on Tuesday night. Previously the council had decided that because of the limited time available before the election of a new council on November 18, information of a non-controversial nature only could be supplied. The council also decided that it was unable to give evidence, but was asked by the Commission to reconsider the decision. Following a brief discussion, however, the council agreed to adhere to its original view. “The many problems connected with the distribution of hotel licences, standards of hotel accommodation, bar facilities, etc., present difficulties, the solution of which can only be obtained by a thorough appreciation of the peculiar requirements of the locality and its probable future development,” the letter before the council stated. “The Commission has looked to the local authorities in the areas in which it has held inquiries for guidance in this direction, and it is hoped that the council will find some method of overcoming the difficulty in presenting evidence at the inquiry.” TIME FACTOR Moving that the council adhere to its original decision, the Mayor, the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., said that there was no other course which it could follow. The position had already been explained. The council had agreed that 1 he time was too short in which to prepare evidence and as the present council would soon cease to exist it. had no authority to represent the public before the Commission on the question of hotels in the city. Any individual citizen, however, had the right to give evidence. Cr. H. R. Gilbcrd said that the council should give some consideration to this question. The assistant secretary of the Commission had visited Wanganui with the object of advising the council. “This is the first opportunity we have had in 50 years of reviewing hotels in this city and we may not get another for 20 years,” Cr. Gilberd added. “We should do something. Some of the hotels in the city are shocking.” The Mayor said that other centres had been given an opportunity of preparing evidence for the Commission, but. the Wanganui City Council had received notice too late. The Wanganui Licensing Committee was fully conversant with the position in the city and would no doubt be giving evidence. There were also other groups in the city which could appear | before the Commission. The Commission had asked some questions which the council was not in a position to answer. The Mayor’s motion was carried.