COUNTY COUNCIL SUPPORTS EXTRA HOTEL LICENSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 45, 30 September 1949, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL SUPPORTS EXTRA HOTEL LICENSE

Support for a further hotel license and a wholesale retail license for the sale of liquor at Whakatane was expressed at this week’s meeting of the Whakatane County Council by several councillors. Claims were put forward by councillors W. M. Clark and W. Hunter for hotel licenses at Murupara and Edgecumbe but, because the Council’s support had not so far been requested, it was decided not to do anything about these two areas. To outline the reason for the Council’s support Cr L. D. Luxton was appointed to attend the sitting of the Licensing Control Commission at Rotorua next week. Cr Luxton said that the matter had risen after a deputation had been received from the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce requesting the Council’s support for the proposal to have a further hotel license and a retail license in the town. Because of the inadequate accommodation at present he thought that a further hotel was needed.

Other councillors agreed with Cr Luxton but Cr Clark pressed for support of a license at Murupara which, he said, had a better claim for an hotel license than Whakatane. The nearest hotel to Murupara was 40 miles away and deserved one more than either Whakatane or Edgecumbe. “Whakatane already has two and Edgecumbe is not far from one/’ he added.

Cr Luxton said he did not think that Murupara would have to worry about any hotels. If the Government established it’s model town in that area it would be most unlikely that hotels would be forgotten.

“I personally favour another one for Whakatane,” he said.

A claim for an hotel license at Edgecumbe was made by Cr Hunter. He said it was better that young people should be able to go and have a drink in the open without sneaking to back doors to beer parties, as was the case at some places where there were no hotels.

As against the Murupara and Edgecumbe claims Cr A. Wardlaw pointed out that Whakatane was the only town so far that had requested support for extra licenses. The Council had not been approached by other interests from any of these places. Cr A. F. McGougan said he did not think that the licenses should be increased. There was enough drinking going on today. “I don’t really think the Edgecumbe people want a license,” he contended.

When the proposal was put to the vote it was decided to support the licenses for Whakatane only.