Central Hotel Seeks Liquor Licence Renewal

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 2

Central Hotel Seeks Liquor Licence Renewal

The question of re-granting a ' licence for the Central Hotel, Otaki, was again -before the Otaki Licensing Cbmmittee when it held its adjourned annual meeting in Levin on Friday. Mr. Mitchell appeared for the owners and Mr. O'Regan for the licensee, John Alexander Eustace. In seeking the committee's reconsideration of the question, Mr. O'Regan pointed out that the repairs to the building requisitioned for in the first instance were now substantially complied with. The house was functioning properly and the guests were well catered for. He asked that the licence be issued in respect of the premises, which were now in as good condition as many city hotels. Appearing for the owners, x Mr. Mitchell supported Mr. O'Regan and pointed out that the owner was concerned about the position, as one of the conditions of the mortgage was that the licence be continued. He had been assured that all the repairs asked for had been carried out.. He submitted further that the committee's only 1 concern was the issuing of the licence and suggested that although the Licensing Commission had recommended that the committee adjourn the matter a further three months until it sat

in the district, it had to be considered that this delay would make it a period of nine months from the date of the original annual meeting. It was problematical, he added, if the matter could be finalised before the next annual meeting. For the police, Sergeant W. Grainger said that althoug'h substantial interior repairs had been done, considerable work was still required to bring the building up to a decent standard. Commenting, the chairman of the committee, Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., said that there seemed to be some 'disagreement in regard to the repairs. He considered that it might be a much foetter procedure if the committee itself viewed the building and inspected the guest book. The owners, when complaining of the delay or possible delay in a decision, should bear in mind that the position had been first brought about by their slackness in allowing the building to reach such a state of disrepair. The committee was not out to render the task of the Licensing Commission smoother, or easier. It was merely basing its views on the state of the building at the time of the last annual meeting. The committee was" perfectly prepared to change its mind," if necessary even in matters affecting the question of redundancy. It was deeided that the committee visit the hotel next Friday, this decision being welcomed by both representatives of the owners and licensee.