LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2473, 10 March 1882, Page 3

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

CHRIS TOHWEOH NOETH. The first meeting of the licensing committee for Ohriatohurch North was held at the Eoaident Magistrate’s Court at noon to-day. Present—Messrs E. J. S. Harman (chairman), P. Cunningham, E. Wosteura, O. A. Pritchard, and Dr. Prins. Mr Walker, clerk to the commissioners, stated that Mr Harman had been elected by the licensing committee as chairman for Christchurch North. Mr Thomas appeared for several applicants for extensions of hours under the new Act. EXTENSIONS. Mr Henry Allen, of the Golden Ago, applied for an extension of license under clause 37, subsection 1. which provides as follows : The licensing committee may, at any annual or quarterly licensing meeting, grant to any holder of a publicans’s license, on payment of an additional fee of ten pounds, an extension of the time hereinbefore prescribed for the sale of liquors, until twelve o’clock at night, on being satisfied of its being for the benefit and convenience of the public. Such extension of license shall be granted by an endorsement on the certificate and license respectively. Mr Thomas said bo desired to call the attention of the committee to the powers under which they could grant the extension. The Act came into force on October Ist last, and under sub section 7 the old law remained in force until the district was gazetted. The district having been gazetted, he took it that the committee had power to deal with the question of extension. The only question was a publican’s license, as this was not mentioned except in the interpretation clause, where it defined the meaning of a “publican’s license.” This, he took it, included general and hotel licenses. It would be in their Worships knowledge that in Christchurch the theatre was very seldom out before 11 p.m., and therefore the publicans had to refuse to serve anyone or break the law. Again, the trams left the square after 11 p m., and those desiring to go by the trams had no place to go to until the tram loft. Besides, the Exhibition was sure to attract large numbers of persans who would attend places of amusement. They would require refreshment after 11 p.m., and he, therefore, asked as a matter of public convenience that the extension should be granted. The Bench could try this as an experiment for the coming three months. The Chairman asked whether Mr Thomas was of opinion that the holders of publicans licenses were able to keep open to IX p.mMr Thomas said that it was er 7

difficult to fcivo an expression of opinion. He took it this way, that the Govern ment might, it they felt «o disposed, cause all houses to be closed at 10 p.m., but he thought this would not be carried into effect, as the publicans had paid their license fees under the old Act, and had re ceived a license enabling them to sell till 11 p.m.

The Chairman said the licensing committee had the law before them. The 30th clause said that the publicans’ licenses should bo allowed to sell liquors between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Mr Thomas was aware of this, and ha understood that in Sydney it had been held on appeal to the full Court that though the old Act granted permission to keep open to a certain hour, the new Act must be held to supersede that. He would only point out to their Worships how exceedingly inconvenient it would be to make the houses close at 10 p.m., especially under the circumstances he had urged. The committee would therefore, he hoped, see their way clear to grant the application. I'he Chairman said that the committee had decided not to grant the extension, but they would not take any action to compel the closing of publio-houses at 10 p.m. They would still consider the old law in force as regarded the closiug. Mr Thomas said, after this expression of opinion on the part of the committee, he would withdraw the following applications for similar extensions, viz., Mr Barlow (Britannia), Mr Maonamara (Gladstone), Mr Amyes (Junction). The Chairman said it was well known that in the city there were a number of hotels in which a large number of bedrooms existed, but where matters were so arranged as that the procuring of accommodation was made most difficult. The committee had before them the names of several hotels in which the public convenience was not studied, in fact which existed merely for the sale of drink. The committee desired to warn license holders that at the annual licensing meeting in June those cases would be strictly inquired into, with a view of ascertaining whether it was to the public interest that they should continue to hold licenses merely for the sale of drink. The committee now gave the holders of licenses who persisted in a line of conduct such as he had referred to, warning of what their course would bo at the June annual licensing meeting. WHOLESALE LICENSES. The following wholesale licenses were granted: Messrs Orowe and 00., W. A. Kcapman, Miles and 00. and £. W. Eoper and 00. EXEMPTION FROM KEEPING LAMP BURNING. Mr Thomas said he desired to make an application on behalf of Mr 0. Amyes, of the Junction Hotel, for exemption under the 124th section of the Act. The section was as follows : Every licensed pnblican shall keep a lamp affixed over the door of his licensed premises, or within twenty feet thereof, lighted during the whole of every night, from sunset to sunrise, during the time of his holding such license. Every person who acts in contravention of or who fails to comply with any provision of this section shall forfeit and pay for each such offence a penalty not exceeding forty shillings. The licensing committee may, by endorsement on his license, exempt any publican from compliance with this provision in cates where they shall think the street or particular place, where his licensed premises are situate, to be otherwise sufficiently lighted. In support of the application he might mention that there, was immediately in front of his hotel an extra large public lamp. The Chairman said that no doubt the provision in tbe old Aot was intended to aot as a means whereby travellers could be guided Of course, with the growth of the city and increase of public lighting, this was now hardly necessary, but the committee desired to go carefully into the Aot as bearing on all points connected with the management and supervision of licensed houses, therefore they would not grant the application now, but Mr Thomas might renew it in June. Mr Thomas said, under the circumstances, he wonld withdraw the application. WANT OP ACCOMMODATION. The Chairman, addressing Sergeant-Major Mason, said that the committee desired to have a report by the police upon those hotels in the city where no lodgers are kept, or whore difficulties, such as to render the hotel a mere drinking shop, were placed in the way of those desiring accommodation. The committee had the names of those hotels, but preferred not to make them public at present. In June, however, they would expect a full report from the police on the subject. Sergeant-Major Mason said the requisite information would be furnished. The committee then rose.