THE CLOSED HOTEL BARS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 6

THE CLOSED HOTEL BARS.

STAY SHUT HOW LONG? MAYOR SAYS TILL TUESDAY. TRADE DEPUTATION. POLICE EYE ON ILLICIT SALES. Representative licensed victuallers waited on His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) yesterday to inquire how long tile hotels in Wellington were to remain closed. . Mr. John Uevoridgo (Grand - Hotel) stated that, whilst appreciating the position, they desired the .Mayor to consider the question of reopening the hotels at tho earliest possible moment, xhoy had to pay heavy rentals, and other expenses were also vcr-y heavy. Closing tho burs had already meant a serious loss, and they would like to know whether the Mayor would tell them In-j mind on the question of reopening, i hey (tUe licensed viettiailers)suggested that- they should be permitted to reopen on Saturday. Being fully in touch with the public, they felt that tho closing of the hotels was now less justsliable than had been tho easo earlier in the strike.

The Mayor: "You saw wliafc tho Magistrate said in Auckland?" Mr. Beveridgc remarked that Auek/and was not WeJiuigton. Many of the iiotelkeepers here carried largo staffs, entailing heavy expenses, and if tho closure was maintained for a lengthy period they would have to give their -staffs a holiday.' Thoy woro running ,01.1 the minimum number of guests, and tho residential part of the business did not pay. i

What Licensees Undertook. "Should y«i decide to open tlio hotels, a-dded Mr. Bevoridge, i4 wo will endeavour to co-o.por.at© with you in every way m maintaining, law ami order. \\"o can givo you an assurance that the hotels will he conducted with tho strictest care, and that- the bars will: be closely Watched by the licensees them* selves with a view to preventing .anything a Pßoachmg drunkenness. Sho-iifd anv misconduct or drunkenness occur in any hotel, that hotel should bo closed down lu i the other hotels. We have knowledge that- sly grog is now rampant in Wellington, but., apart fromthat, we ask yon seriously to consider the earliest opportunity of reopening tho oi' at least to give us an expression of opiiiien as to how Jong tli® hotels are likely to remain closed/ Mr. Joseph Ma-iulel (Empire Hotel) said that, if the hotels were reopened, they would place men of trust on duty to see that nobody who was in the least degree under tiie influence ■ of liquor should bo served.. Thov would also undertake that no bottled liquor would bo sold - for consumption. outside.

The Mayor's Reply, ' The Mayor, in the course of his reply, emphasised tho difficulties of tho position. Previous to the closing of the hotels he had been: subjected to very j strong expressions of disapproval, for TOt following the c;&ainplo of Auckland, Wt ho had not allowed his actions to be dictated by anybody. He thought that it would have been greatly to the credit of the Umpire City if, during a great stuike, and with Parliament sitting) too hotels Coiild have kept oneiii without detriment to the public welfare. Ho had looked into the whole, question, and had made it- his duty to'look round the . streets of Wellington-along the-main; lines of traffic at J.O o'clock iuid after, night .after night, and ho had to say that the. promiso given for tlic proper conduct oi hotels during the strike had heen kept until recently. "But I regret to say," continued Mr. X»uke, ''that I saw a good mauy drunken men about during the early pa.rt of this week. 1 saw. man going down to their ships with one or two bottles of beer with them. I think that was a distinct violation of the promise given me by the licensed victuallers, and such a state of tilings was not to he toles-ated. That wa.s why I ordered the closing of tho hotels. I look upon this matter as one to he dealt with from day to day astho it is my opinion that Auckland is going outside thc_ intention of the Act. in -closing tho hotels for an indefinite period. The- City Solicitor Ims advised mo that I am clearly '111 tho right in my attitude." As to the suggestion of opening the hotels under the assurance of the Hotolkfiepers and closing any hotel whero piy breach took place, Mr. Luke said he could not undertake the responsibility. Ho could not give them any hope of tli-p hotels being reopened before neat Tuesday. He would then bo prepared to discuss the matter with thom again. In reply to a question Mr. Luko received an assurance that there Was no arrangement with landlords of hotel property for any reduction of rents and: other charges—tho whole of the loss fell j upon the hotelkeepers.

Police Will Ba Vigilant. The fact that, although all hotels are closed, liquor is still being obtained from some of them by others thaii boarders has not been overlooked by the police. The position was referred to Superintendent Ellison, who pointed out for public information that the hotels Swire closed in the existing circumstances under the Licensing Act. Hutpi-kc-opers who supply drink an'd people who are found in tho hotels render themselves liable under tho Act as if drink were served and consumed on tho promises during prohibited hoars. Tho police will now (as it always does) take all necessary steps to deal with hotel, keepers and parsons 'frcqueflti.ng tho hotels while they are now closed as it tho hours w-orc prohibited hours—such as Sjuaduys or .after closing time.

\ Mayor's Act Supported. \ "J am in agreement with you," wrote on<j city whdesi'ife wilir. • and spirit merchant to the Majw yesterday, "that the greatest caro should he -excrciseri bv wholcsalo firms in view of the strike. Sneaking for my firm we only supply in wholesale .quantities to o>iv old custoHi> ei's and to hotels when thoy are legally open. Our staff have strict instructions to make cnrcful inquiries rcgavdin iV j\ny new customers before delivery," Another firm wrote: "We iiave to inform you t hat tlio matter has already received our attention, and tlio utmost cam will be continued to be exercised during the present trouble.'' These and other letters in similar' strain are replies to a circular letter issticd by the jVIaYor to wliolnsalo w?n« and spirit merchants, calling on tlicm to cXerciso tlio greatest discretion as to whom they supply with liquor durin fr the present industrial.ansis. Hie Jtsvo'r t eels greatly heartened by the response to Ins efforts to keep the Citv orderly, and hopes that all sections of the coinmuinty will isontinue to girf him that support.