LIQUOR LENSESIC

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1920, Page 3

LIQUOR LENSESIC

MATA MATA APPLICATION REFUSED. TAURANGA, July 10. After a lengthy hearing, tlie Tauranga Licensing Committee at 10.30 lust night, refused tho. application of A. Montgomery for an accommodation lieensc at Matamata. The case created J considerable interest, owing to the . method adopted to secure the transfer of a license over a greater distance than one mile, namely from Maketu, in the Bay of Plenty to Matamata. At tho annual meeting of the committee on June 10th, an application was made, and granted, for the renewal of tho Maketu license. At tli e same meeting an application was made for a license at Matamata, but, there being then no license vacant ,the applicant sought, and secured, an adjournment for this application for one month. In the mean- . time by the non-payment of the foe, tho Maketu license was allowed to lapse, so that, when the Matamata application came before the committee on Thursday last, there was then a license available. Tlie chairman of the committee, Mr VV. G. Kenrick, S.M., announcing th e decision of the majority of the committee said that the application was ref us. ed on the grounds that the committee thought that there was already sufficient acommodation in Matamata and that there was no necessity for a lkense. Each party was ordered to pay its own costs. It was stated, in evidence, that, since the application was first made, a building had been erected at Matamata, at a cost of about £4OOO. This building is inside the brick area, and it has not been constructed in brick, it has now, under agreement with the Matamata Town Board, to be moved outside the brick area.