LICENSED HOUSES.

West Coast Times, Issue 3581, 24 September 1880, Page 3

LICENSED HOUSES.

(To the Editor.)

Sib, — With your kind permission aljow me to reply as briefly ai possibly to a letter which appears in to-day'a issue i or* .your paper. Tbe writer of the letter in question first asks you—" ls that, portion 6i the Licensing Act which compels holders qf licenses to provide food and accommodation for travellers in force in this, por.ti.on ,of New Zealand?" Well, for the qiier'si's information, I can tell him it is. He then goes on to say— "On Friday, 10th inst., my business took me to the Aralura, and detained me (there Until after 5 p.m. I then proceeded leisurely to one of the hotels (Greyhound Hot. 1). which are there, and after partaking of some beer asked if I could get accommod'atiba for a few (lays, stajingtbat.l should be employed in tb'e vicinity for about tiiat time. , Judge of niy astonishment arid disgust, on .receiving a curt ' No ' for reply." As to the curtness of the reply, I.dou't recollect anything about it ; but this I know, eyeD accepting the writer's own statement, I cannot see what he has to complain of. I refused him accommodation as a boarder, and hot as a traveller. I told him one : boarder would not pay me— that, l would nqt board less than eight or ten, anid would then require a guarantee as to payment. He did not ask for a meal, nor did he say he was hungry. 111 1 ad he said so, I would of course have accommodated him at once.

In conclusion, allow me to say that I have now been in occupation of my present licensed house for about twelve years, and have never to my knowledge allowed a traveller— with or without money— to go away hungry. I am, &c, PATkICK QuiNN. Greyhound Hotel, Arahura, September 22. P.S — PJease don't charge me for the last paragraph as an advertisement, for I didn't mean it as such. — P.Q.