THE NORMANBY HOTEL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 June 1924, Page 11

THE NORMANBY HOTEL.

RENEWAL OF LICENSE. OPPOSED BY POLICE. At the annual meeting of the Egmont Licensing Bench yesterday, Francis Edward Buckly applied for a renewal of the license of the Normanby Hotel, Normanby. Sergeant Henry, on behalf of the police, objected to the renewal. Mr. Ryan, Hawera, apeared for the licensee. Sergeant Henry said the matter had been discussed twleve months ago. Air. Buckly had been before the Court for an offence and convicted. The local constable had warned Mr. Buckly. Constable Pidgeon, stationed at Normanby, said that at the last annual meeting an objection was lodged and the application adjourned for a policereport. The report was favourable, and the license had been granted in 1923. The objection had been lodged in 1922. In 1923 Mr. Buckly had been brought before the court. This year Buckly wa.s fined for exposing liquor for sale. He was also charged with supplying liquor to a minor. This latter charge was dismissed, the Magistrate giving Buckly the benefit of the doubt. On another occasion this year Buckly was charged with opening his prelmses prior to the time specified, viz., 9 a.m. On that occasion a man was found on the premises and Buckly was convicted and fined £3. The man found on the prem_ lses .was also fined. AVitness on another occasion visited the hotel and found a man on the premises, who said he was trying to get a beer. This man was also fined for being found on the premises. Witness had warned the licensee several times as to the lax manner in which he ivas conducting his hotel. Buckly, in witness’ opinion was not firm enough. Buckly’s customers were a hard class to deal with. The whole trouble was that Buckly was too easy-going and good-natured. Air. Ryan said under Section 104 of the Licensing Act, an objection of the nature of the present one could only he dealt with at a quarterly meeting. He did not stress this point. The conviction against Buckly. w T as not sufficient ground on which to refuse a license. He claimed that habitual had conduct had not been proved. Up till last December there-had been nothing against the house. Mr. Ryan also intimated that the licensee was not continuing with the lease, and intended no longer to conduct the house.

The chairman said >that this information had a material effect upon the minds of the committee. It seemed a strange thing that in the four districts he controlled this licensee was the only one whose application was objected to. Where there w r as smoke there was sure to he fire. In view of the statement just made by counsel the license would lie granted.