LICENSES SOUGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22648, 29 June 1945, Page 2

LICENSES SOUGHT

CLAIMS FOR HAMILTON ACCOMMODATION SHORTAGE Futher evidence before the Royal Commission on Hotel Licensing, heard at Rotorua yesterday, included claims for additional hotels, chartered clubs and wholesale wine and spirits licenses for Hamilton. Mr H. D. Caro, Mayor of Hamilton, continuing his evidence, said he was of opinion that a further 200 beds at licensed hotels in Hamilton would be adequate. He thought two more licensed hotels of the standard of the best Hamilton hotels would be justified for such a large and important centre. They should be near the principal shopping area. Mr G. H. Jew, company secretary and farmer, advocated a charter for another club, and said a club was in process of formation. Drinking conditions in Hamilton had become so unpleasant that a considerable number of business and professional men had been forced to forgo that social relaxation. Nowhere in New Zealand was the “cheek by jowl” drinking referred to by Mr W. H Woodward, S.M., better exemplified than in Hamilton. A chartered club which was now in process of incorporation would enable members to entertain business associates and visitors to the town in much.more congenial surroundings than was possible in the hotels under existing conditions. Even if a charter was not granted, it was still proposed to continue with the establishment of a club with first-class amenities, not only for Hamilton business and professional men, but also for farmers from surrounding districts. Brewer’s Viewpoint Mr Francis T. Innes, of Auckland, managing-director of C. L. Innes and Company, Limited, brought to the attention of the Commission the unequal distribution of wholesale licenses. Hamilton was the worst situated centre for the distribution of liquor of any licensed area, he said. Many years ago his company had been refused a wholesale license for Hamilton. In 1910, soon after his company’s application had been refused, the law was amended to restrict the number of wholesale and publican’s licenses and club charters to those already existing in each area. Hamilton was unique in the Dominion in rapidity of growth. The district, which had also greatly developed, was the only part of the Dominion which was not provided for in respect of a wholesale spirit and wine license, the nearest licenses being at Rotorua and Tauranga. Hamilton should have at least two wholesale licenses.

On the subject of hotel licenses, witness said the convenience of the : travelling public was not receiving the attention to which it was entitled because of the insufficient! number of hotels. Hamilton should have at least another five licensed houses. The system of “tied” houses | was extremely bad in the Auckland ! district. Each hotel should be free ! and controlled by the owner-licensee, : and he should not be in any way tied |to buy from one wholesaler or ! brewery firm. More charters for clubs j should be granted, and there should be two more charters for Hamilton. He advocated the taking of licensing polls at no shorter intervals than nine or ten years. Analysis of Population In an analysis of population, Mr Innes said Thames had one hotel to 532 inhabitants, Westland one to 265, Auckland one to 1872, Wellington one to 1539, and Hamilton one to 1405, but the last-quoted figure was based on the population of Hamilton eight years ago. The figure today was about 4000 to each hotel. To witness’ knowledge, no attempt had been made by existing wholesale license-holders to “corner” hotel ! licenses. Wholesale licenses should j be confined to genuine wholesalers, ; and should not be combined with retail businesses. If extra hotel ‘ licenses for Hamilton were granted, it would be necessary to build new premises. He thought there . would be little difficulty in finding the capital for such ventures. Licensing polls showed a downward trend of no-license votes. He did not think no-license would ever be carried, nor would Dominion prohibition. There were no hotels “tied” to his firm. King: Country Trade In reply to questions, Mr Innes said his firm did a certain amount of C.O.D. with the Railway Department for the King Country residents, and he was confident very little of the liquor reached Maoris. His firm sup- • plied two-thirds of the liquor im--1 ported into the King Country. The j police had made no complaints about i the service in about two years. The aspect of abuse of the privileges had been grossly exaggerated by a section of the public. Continuing, witness said he did not concede that the cost of a new hotel for Hamilton or anywhere else was approximately £IOOO per bedroom. He thought extending hotel hours would solve a lot of the trouble that now j prevailed about overcrowding in hotel bars. Many people preferred to stand while consuming liguor, rather than sit down at tables as in ! restaurants. His firm held no shares j in other brewing concerns, but conducted several soft-drink factories in j the Waikato and King Country. He ; could offer no objection to any other j brewing firm establishing a brewery lin or near Hamilton. The present I alcoholic content of beer was fairly J satisfactory, but he suggested 1040 :as a better content, which was slightly more potent that the present brew.

Mr Innes went on to advocate a better standard of New Zealand wine, which would then become more popular, as it would not need to be fortified.