MORRINSVILLE HOTEL.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17134, 22 June 1927, Page 7

MORRINSVILLE HOTEL.

APPLICATION FOR LICENSE BEFORE LICENSING COMMITTEE. NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) PAEROA, Wednesday. Great interest is being taken in an application winch is before the Ohincmiiri Licensing Committee to-day, in which Thomas Anderson is applying for a publican's license in respect of new premises situated on ihe border of Ohinemuri electorate, adjacent to Morrinsville borough, to be known as the Morrinsville Hotel. Mr R. McVeagh (Auckland) is appearing In support of the application; Mr W. R. Tuck (Auckland) for the first memorialists, W. Johnstone and seventeen others: Messrs P. Towlc (Auckland) and A. Needham (Morrinsville) for the second memorialists, J. Palmer and fourteen others; Mr E. McGregor (Morrinsville) for the third memorialists, A. J. Scrivener and others. The police lodged a formal objection j under section 88 of the Licensing Act and ils amendments. At the annual meeting on June 6, Mr Towlc formally objected to any assignment of the license to MPs M. B. Montgomery, on the grounds of preferential claim for Ihe license. He contended j there was no machinery in the Act to j allow such an application, to be pursued. Mr Tuck on that occasion submitted that section 30 of (lie 1910 Act now applied, and contended that no fresh applications could he granted by the existing committee. There was no : increase of population, as provided for j under section 144 of the Act. The Bench to-day comprised Messrs ! F. W.-Platts, S.M. (chairman), W. Marshall, W. J. Towers, P. E. Brenan, F; W. Walters, and W. M. Wallnutt. Mr McVeagh opened Ihe case. He referred to the legislation, and maintained that the committee must carry j out the will of the people, as given ex- j pression to at the ballot box. The hotel premises for which the application is j being made were situated in a rapidly growing district on the main highway through Morrinsville, which is an im- j portant railway junction, and the ccn- I Ire of frequent cattle sales; The only licensed house there was in the bor- i ough, and counsel proposed to call evi- | dence to enable the committee to de- ! cide whether or not the interests of the public would be served by granting a license. Avoid Extremists. Mr McVeagh maintained that the committee must avoid the views of ex- ! tremists, no matter how zealous Ihey { were.

Percy Harold Wylde, returning officer for Ohinemuri and clerk of the committee, said there were 7G37 electors on the roll at the last general election. Ten publicans' licenses had been granted in the Ohinemuri district since restoration was carried. He said that the trustees of the late W. F. Montgomery's estate held a license in respect to the Tramway Hotel at Karangahake when no-license was carried in Ohinemuri. There were 15 licenses in Ohinemuri prior to nolicense coming into effect.

Evidence was given by an architect and by William Montgomery, who, wilh his brother, Owned the site of the Morrinsville Hotel, which William Montgomery had caused to be erected. The latter witness asscrled the necessity for an additional license at Morrinsville. ' To Mr Towlc witness said a new license was justified to meet Morrinsville's needs and those of the travelling public. Witness and his brother had an option over another property, which was situated in the borough'of Morrinsville. Anderson, the applicant in this instance, was witness's brother-in-law.

Under cross-examination by Mr McGregor witness said that he was not interested in the previous application by his mother for a license at Waitoa. lie could give no reason why this application should be granted for Morrinsville when one was refused for Waitoa. More Accommodation Needed. W. R. Lowry, chairman of the Piako County Council, said he had an extensive knowledge of the district. Re maintained that the site was a flrstclass one for a hotel. He gave evidence of the extensive and increasing motor traffic In the locality and the importance of the stock sales at Morrinsville. He pointed out that the Railway Department had made provision for shifting the Morrinsville junction station to a site half-way between the present location of the junction and the new hotel. The Morrinsville district was recognised as one of the richest dairying districts in the Dominion, and Morrinsville township was well within that area. Witness maintained that another license was essential.

To Mr McGregor witness admitted that the building progress of Morrinsville township was more in the opposite direction than in the vicinity of the hew hotel site. Witness admitted that his support was based oh the belief that there should be no monopoly in the holed business, allied to the needs of Ihc travelling public so far as Morrinsville was concerned.

Mr McGregor drew witness' attention to the railway programme mapped out 10 years ahead, and the shift witness suggested was not provided for.

William Charles Dickenson said he had been 30 years in the district, and had been licensee of Ihc present hotel (here for a term, and he did not consider one hotel sufficincnl, to meet the accommodation needs of the travelling public. Joseph Hyslop Boles, who had eight years' residence' in Morrinsville, similarly supported the points as to extra accommodation being needed. To Mr McGregor witness said he sold the site for, the proposed new hotel. To Mr Tuck we admitted that if the license was not granted the building would still be of a certain measure of value to meet accommodation' heeds. George T. Irvine, who had lived in the locality for the past 20 years, maintained that the accommodation at Morrinsville is limited at present, ami a number of people had to seek accommodation wilh private families on occasions. The hearing is proceeding.