REFUSAL OF LICENSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4996, 5 July 1926, Page 2

REFUSAL OF LICENSE.

NO REFLECTION ON CHARACTER. POSITION OF G. S. ROSSI. At the sitting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee at Paeroa on Thursday an explanation of the withholding of a certificate of fitness in connection with an application for a publican’s license was given. When the first meeting oi, the committee was held on June 1 Guiseppe Santa Rossi applied for a license for an hotel to be erected a,t Karangahake. The application was later withdrawn because the application had been unable to obtain the required certificate of fitness.

At Thursday’s meeting of the committee Mr R. S. Carden, who had previously appeared for the applicant, said that Rossi was vary concerned over the reports in the newspapers that lie could not obtain the certificate. Mr Carden asked if the chairman would make a statement in regard to the refusal of the certificate i n order to remove any misunderstanding that might have arisen as to the reasons for the refusal ot 1 the certificate.

Continuing, Mr Carden stated that Rossi ,Was a man who had always highly prized his reputation, and he now feared that wrong reasons might be assigned for the refusal of the certificate. Rossi had obtained testimonials signed by 56 persons as to his high character and integrity in the conduct oT a private hotel at Frankton Junction. Rossi had had considerable experience in mining at Karangahake, and if he had been granted a publican’s license there he had intended to erect a crushing plant for the treatment of ore in the district at his own expense. The matter would not be lost sight of in the future.

Replying to Mr Carden, the chairman said that he would be pleased to make a statement, and desired that any misunderstanding should be removed. A certificate Of fitness, for a publican’s license being refused did not reflect in any way on Mr Rossi’s character. There was evidence to show that he bore a very' excellent character. It should be known that there were other determining factors for the refusal of a certificate of fitness other than a reflection on an applicant’s character. In Mr Rossi’s ci’iSs inexperience df conducting licensed premises had been one Of the main points for refusal, and there was never any suggestion or doubt but that Mr Rossi bore a good character.