BOROUGH LICENSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 924, 24 June 1903, Page 2

BOROUGH LICENSES.

RATES, FI Rid ESCAPES, KEROSENE AND SPIRITS.

At, tlui Borough Council meeting last, night (lie annual licenses for hoarding-houses, music-halls, storage of dangerous goods, etc., were dealt with. The first, were for Hie hoarding-houses, and a question was asked by Or Hepburn as to whether the Council could compel those who held such licenses to provide bathrooms. The discussion proceeded at some length, one point being as to whether the Council bad the power to withhold licenses in case of a refusal to comply, but that dilliculty was got, over by the fact, that it the people could not. get baths the place could not lie considered sanitary. Cr Somervell went so far as to say bo would like ‘to see a law compelling bath-rooms in all houses erected, while Cr Wltinray considered it would be incongruous to compel people to have bath-rooms when there was no water. “ Then," retorted the Mayor, “you should help us to get it.” When the discussion had terminated the Inspector’s opinion was asked, when it transpired that only two hoarding-houses were without bath-rooms, and in those cases it was decided not to renew the licenses until each was supplied with a bath-room.

Regarding theatres, the Inspector recommended that a conditional license for three months be granted to tiie Theatre Royal, on condition that the floor he rc-lilucked yvithin that period. The question of lire escapes was raised by Cr Morrison, who said the Council compelled doors to be. putin for such a purpose, but they were blocked up with bags. The Inspector said that the ticket office portion was as far as he knew, the only part blocked, and Cr Morrison said (bat that was important. Or Miller said that the manager of Hie hall would no doubt attend to any reasonable suggestions, but be thought that any expensive alterations should be left until Mr McKee’s ret urn.

It was agreed to leave the matter of egress in case of lire to the Inspector. When the licenses lor storage of dangerous goods were being dealt with, (be question was raised by Lr Morrison whether the quantity of kerosene and spirits allowed to be stored was not too large in the vicinity, of a block of wooden buildings., ' Cr Rysuar thought the Council should have a building for the purpose and make a small charge foi storage. It was agreed that the inspector should report as to probable cost of a suitable building.