LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15835, 4 June 1919, Page 9

LICENSING COMMITTEE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Licensing Committee was held this morning, at' which there were present—Messrs A. G. Bignell (chairman), N. Meuli, J. C. Richardson, W. G. Basset, and' J. H. Burnet. ALBION HOTEL—H. D. Mclvor (Mr Hussey) applied for a permanent transfer of the license of the Albion Hotel to J. R. Brown. Inspector Hendrey said that in the opinion of the police the accommodation at the hotel was not as it should be. The licensee should do something to make the hotel more comfortable. At the present time there was no room in the house where persons wet and cold could dry themselves. There was not a fireplace in the house, except in the kitchen. The Inspector also commented upon the furnishing of the bedrooms.—Mr Hussey said the new licensee was quite prepared to make some of the alterations suggested, but' thpt of rugs and carpets in the bedrooms was a little beyond the licensee’s means. He was paying £ls a week rental. The hotel was not a first-class one, but for workingmen.— Inspector Hendry remarked that there was too much class distinction. A workingman, be said, was as much entitled to comfort as a millionaire. The workingman was entitled to reasonable comfort, but he contended that the accommodation provided was not reasonable comfort. The committee decided to adjourn the application for three months in order to allow the licensee to carry out the alterations suggested by the police. The com-> mittee also expressed the hope that there ivould be some improvement in the conduct of the hotel.

Provincial Hotel. —When the application for a renewal of the license of the Provincial Hotel to A. H. Rogers was being considered the Committee expressed the wish that certain structural alterations recommended by the police would be carried out. Mr Mcßeth, who appeared for the licensee, asked that the license should not be made conditional to the alterations being carried out. He said that as the alterations were structural it was the owner’s duty to pay for them. The licensee was quite prepared to pay for his share. Inspector Hendrey said at present the urinal was close to the dining-room windows, and in the interests of health and convenience of patrons some alterations should be made before next summer. Mr Brodie, on behalf of the owner, asked that the license should be granted unconditionally, and the matter of alterations would be settled between the owner and licensee. He said he considered it unfair that the requisition had not come through the proper channel, the Public Health Department. The Committee decided to grant the license unconditionally upon that understanding. RECOMMENDATIONS. Speaking generally of the recommendations made by the Police and Health authorities, the chairman expressed the wish that all the recommendations made would be carried out before thQ next quarterly meeting. The recommendations made were quite reasonable, and were ordinary repairs and renewals. LICENSES RENEWED. —Applications for renewals of hotel licenses were granted to the following:—Castlecliff Hotel, T. H. Nixon (Mr Mcßeth); Chavanne’s Hotel, J. G. Swan (Mr Mcßeth); Foster’s Hotel, J. R. Poster (Mr Cohen); Commercial Hotel, T. E. Miffs (Mr Brodie); Red Lion Hotel, J. Cameron (Mr Brodie); Rutland Hotel (S. L. Parsons (Mr Brodie); New Criterion, C. G. Rhimes (Mr Bain); McCarthy’s Hotel, C. J. McCarthy (Mr Cohen); Imperial Hotel, N. McKenzie-Forbes (Mr Brodie); Metropolitan Hotel, W. H. Wilson (Mr Cohen); Federal Hotel, A- Griffs (Mr Cohen);’ Masonic Hotel, A. Mangusson (Mr Cohen). Speaking with respect to the New Criterion Hotel, Inspector Hendrey alleged that the conduct of the hotel was not satisfactory. He said he was not in a position to make any charge, but a large number of persons had been found on these premises .after hours. Mr Rhimes may not have known anything about it, and may not be to blame.

WHOLESALE LUESES.—The following applications for renewals of wholesale licenses were granted; K. Murdoch and Co. (Mr Bain), T. C. Seed and Co. (Mr Bain), Hatrick and Co. (Mr Bain), Wanganui Supply and Agency Co., Johnstdne and Co. (Mr Cohen), Levin and Co. (Mr Cohen), A wine license was granted to H. Lawrence. An application for a wholesale license was applied for by Mr Hutton on behalf of J. H. Von Haaet, for premises to be situated on Taupo Quay, This was a new application. It was considered in camera, and upon returning hie Committee announced that it had decided, to refuse Hie application. PACKET LICENSES .—Renewals were granted to Messrs Hatrick and Co. for packet licenses for their river steamers.