"DRINKING ORGY" IN HOTEL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 74, 20 December 1937, Page 9

"DRINKING ORGY" IN HOTEL

-Press Association,)

Tokaanu Licence To Be Transferred COMMITTEE'S DECISION

(By Telegraph-

ROTORUA, Saturday. After notic'e had been served upon the lieensee to attend and answer charges in regard to the alleged improper conduct of a house, the licensing committee, at a meeting which lasted all day and concluded just before midnight yesterday, and after hearing extensive evidence in -regard to the. charges, indicated that at itS annual meeting in March it would expe'ct the licenee of the Tokaanu Hotel to be -transferred from the present . lieensee, Jolm Atirau Aslier, to some rnore suitable person, The chairman of the committee, Mr. 8. L. Paterson, S.M., stated that the committee had decided to adjourn the mattef until the annual meeting to givo s other parties. financially interested in i the hotel to safeguard their interests. Evidence dealt firstly . with poiicb complaintB regarding a driuking party in thc hotel on a Sunday, August 1, when it was alleged that Bome members of a visiting footbail team, togethef with some other persons and two Maori girls, conducted what was described'aS "a d'rinking orgy" in the hottl. It was stated in connection with this that 18 bottles of beer and half a bottle of whisky were supplied to the party, a nuinber of those present becoming intoxieated and one of the Maori girls being seen asleep on a bed with a European who was also drunk. In reply to a question by Mr. F. Ongley, who appeared for Asher, tho chairman said he would instruct the Bench to base its findingr llrstly, upon the evidence in relation t » tho incidents on August 1, and secoudly, upon any evidence tending to show improper conduct of thc house. Considerable evidence in this connection was called relating to the alleged iaxity on the part of the lieensee in ■he supply of liquor to natives and in lot being present to supervise the coniuct of the hotel. Asher denied the allegations, but after deliberation the chairman anuounced that tho Bench was satisfied there had been improper control of the premises, and under" section 104 of the Licensing Act had decided that the iieence must be transferred to a more suitable person than the present Holder; It is understood that this is the first occasion on which this section of the Act shas been invoked against a lieensee.