CONDITION OF HOTELS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1937, Page 10

CONDITION OF HOTELS

OLD AND OUT OF DATE

"GOT TO CEASE" The shortage of modern hotel accommodation and the number of old hotel buildings in Wellington were the subject of comment by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., chairman of the Wellington Licensing Committee, at the annual meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon. "Now we come to the general wash-ing-up," said Mr. Mosley after the business of the applications had been gone through. "The committee views its duties with a considerable amount of seriousness. It performs functions of great importance, and it is determined to perform those functions to the best of-its ability, hoping, almost against hope—there are glimpses ' of hope—that-the law will be altered in some respects td give authority to the committee not to grant licences to some of the many houses that exist in Wellington and elsewhere—but mostly, I must say, in Wellington—that should never exist in a young community like New Zealand until such houses are at least modernised and brought up to date. And that is necessary in the interests of public health and safety. This is becoming more and more evident every day. "UNSAVOURY HOVELS." "How some of these houses have been allowed to degenerate into unsavoury hovels almost passes my comprehension. This has got to cease. Landlords should not be compelled by law to comply with the requirements of this modern age. They ought to spring to it and see that the conditions are complied with. I am astonished really at the number of buildings that the committee has reported on as being old and out of date, and not answering the requirements of modern civilisation. "Wellington is not always going to be a city with its present population. In the near future it will be one of the largest and most modern cities in the Southern Hemisphere, and the requirements of the public should be catered for. You have only to live in this city for a few years to find out that there is not enough accommodation not only for its citizens but also for the travelling public. It is next door to impossible to get suitable accommodation. That state of affairs should not exist. MANY CONVICTIONS. "There is another matter to which I must refer—the matter of convictions. A number of hotels have licensees convicted of selling liquor after hours and of allied offences. But the worst part is the number of people who have been convicted of being on hotel premises after hours. Indications point to a very considerable amount of illegal business being done by licensees. I am certain that they could put a stop to it if they desired to do so. I am rather afraid some licensees encourage after-hour trading. It is against the'law and meets with the condemnation of every member of the Licensing Committee and of the Magistrates who have the honour of occupying the Bench of this Court. PUBLIC TO BLAME. "Of course one has to blame the public as well as the licensees; but I blame the licensees because without them the public could not commit these offences. The time will come when it will be looked upon as a more serious offence than it is at present. \ "The members of this committee, in visiting the houses, found them in a cleaned:up condition, which is a very good thing. The committee gave notice to the licensees of its intention to visit, and was very glad to see the premises under the best conditions possible. Nevertheless, it saw certain things that wanted improving. I see no reason why the licensees and the owners should not work together in their own interests as well as in the interests of the public. If they do that they will rest assured they will have the support of the authorities .and of the Licensing Committee as well. . "The committee has reported in detail the result of the inspection, and that report, which is a very comprehensive one, will be forwarded to the proper authority, together with comment by myself. That will be to the benefit of the authority concerned and. ultimately,, to the licensee." Mr. Mosley thanked the members of the committee .for the time they had devoted to the licensing problem, and for their valuable report. The members of the committee are Messrs. G. J. Petherick, W. H. Denton, F. P. Walsh, R. Darroch, -and A. Longmore.