OHINEMURI LICENSES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1926, Page 3

OHINEMURI LICENSES

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT AUCKLAND, July 2. An injunction prohibiting the Oliinenmri Licensing Committee from granting licenses to the Paeroa Hotel, at Paeroa ; the Kcrepeehi Hotel, at Kerepeehi ; and the Golden Cross Hotel at Wnilii; was set aside by Air Justice Stringer at the Supreme Court to-day after a hearing occupying most ot th

The action arose out of the relusni of the Licensing Committee to grant a license to Mary Blackley Montgom cry (Air H. 0. Cooney) for a hotel a* AVaitoa last Saturday. Air Cooney obtained a rule nisi to quash tho refusal and an order prohibiting tlie Committee from granting licenses to three other hotels. Ali- Cooney had applied to the Committee for an adjournment of his application and a statement in writing of the Committee’s grounds of refusal, both of which were refused. He then stated- his objection to the personnel of the Committee, mentioning particularly AVilliam- Marshal. William John ’lowers ami Francis AA illiam AAalteis. members of the Commitec, on the grounds that Marshall and Towers were working on renovations to hotel-. in Rneroa and were not fit persons to sit in judgment on his application, an 1 that AVa Iters had given a pledge against the granting of a license t > AVaitoa, and lmd taken an active part in preparation of a memorial to the Committee against the granting ot this license.

As a consequence of this action, the Committee was unable to grant licenses to the three hotels mentioned. At to-day’s hearing, a motion "a - filed on behalf of the defendants to have the prohibition set aside, and this was upheld by the Court. The Committee mets again on Mon day. rt will he in a position to grant licenses to three houses, two ol which are now ready to open for business. It was stated that further proceedings would he taken in connection with the Committee’s refusal to grant the AVaitoa. license.