AUCKLAND LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 5

AUCKLAND LICENSING COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Auckland Licensing Committee was held this morning to consider certain matters adjourned-from the previous sitting. There were present: Messrs P. Cheal, Graves Aickin, A. Rosser, and W. J: Rees. SHAMROCK! HOTEL. The adjourned application for. a license for the Shamrock Hotel was heard, Dr. Bamford appearing for the applicant. Dr. .Bamiord said the application had been adjourned pending the hearing of proceedings in the Police Court. In the interim, a new objection was raised by the police, and he thought this was not fair, and no evidence should be taken on it. Sub-Inspector Gordon said they had the objection at the time of the former meeting. Mr Aickin: There was nothing disclosed at the annual meeting. Mr Cheal: The only objection was about certain intoxicated people being on the premises, but nothing was said about card-playing. The Bench decided to hear the evidence. ' Sergeant Ramsay said that at 2.30 am. on April 24, when he was passing the hotel, he heard some men talking on the second floor of the house. He could hear money being passed, and the shuffling of cards. Witness called the attention of Constable Garvey to the matter. The sounds continued from 2.30 until 3.40 am., when the men dispersed, and went to the different bed-rooms. On Saturday, 27 th, witness and Constable Garvey heard similar sounds. Cross-ex-amined, witness said that with the exception of the instances mentioned, he had nothing against Mr Ryan. Witness had had no complaint from the occupants of the YJd-CA. Buildings; they would go to his superior officers. Witness and the constable made no attempt to enter the house, and did not hear the remarks of those in the upstairs room. Constable Garvey and Sergeant Eales gave evidence as to hearing the sounds, which they suspected to be due to cardplaying. Mr Aickin said that in his opinion the police were out of court in this matter. The committee should have been told of this latter matter at the annual meeting. Sub-Inspector Gordon said the major question was that concerning the presence of drunken persons on the premises. Mr Aickin: We should have the minor wij2i the major. Dr. Bamford said the supposed cardplaying should certainly nave been brought before the eommitteee. Where there was a specific offence he thought the police should not bring their suspicions before the committee, but before a Court in the shape of a proscution. Mr Aickin: I don't think our time should be taken up by mere suspicions. Sub-Inspector Gordon: Your Worships are the judges. We think that the committee is entitled to hear all evidence in respect to the conduct of hotels. Mr Cheal said the committee were not j sorry that the whole thing had been thrashed out. Though they did not wish to hinder the police in endeavouring to catch people who broke the law, the committee were not satisfied with mere suspicions. They would like some specific charge. From the evidence before them there had been a certain amount of remissness, and the committee had decided to grant the license to Mr Daniel Ryan. The evidence Should show more than a suspicion that gambling had been going on, but they wished to caution the licen-, set that gambling on licensed premises was a serious offence. Mr Rees said he was satisfied that there was gambling from the police evidence, Mr Aickin said a man should be told what the charges against him were. WYNYARD ARMS HOTEL.

With respect to the application for the Wynyard Arms Hotel, which had • also been' adjourned, Dr. Bamford said he desired co withdraw the application which was before the committee. At the annual meeting the committee considered that the police report was unfavourable, and adjourned tbe matter, in order that a transfer might be effected. This had been done. Mr Freeman had no opportunity of meeting the charges which were made against him. On a police report, unsupported by evidence, he had been declared to be unfit to hold a license, and felt his position keenly. The Sub-Inspector said he had had every opportunity. Dr. Bamford said that the evidence in a case in which Mr Freeman was not a party was not admissible. The committee granted the application for withdrawnl. On the application of Mr E. J. Stewart, the committee granted a transfer of tile Wynyard Arms Hotel from Frederick Freeman to Robert .T. Ware,.grantiag a new license to the latter. (Proceeding.)