MORRINSVILLE LICENSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5136, 8 June 1927, Page 3

MORRINSVILLE LICENSE.

CONSIDERATION BY COMMITTEE. ADJOURNMENT TO JUNE 22. At the first annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Licensing Committee last year an application, with others, was heard for the issue of a publican’s license for premises to be erected at Waitoa. After a protracted hearing the application was disallowed. In the meantime hotel premises have been erected near Morrinsville on the boundary of the lOhinemuri electorate-.

The second annual meeting of the committee was held at Paeroa on Monday, the chairman (Mr F. W. Platts, S.M.) presiding, when an application by Thomas Anderson for a publican’s license for new premises to be. known as the Morrinsville Hotel, Morrinsville, on election by Mrs Mary Blackey Montgomery, was received.

Mr R. McVeagh appeared in support of the application, Messrs W. R. Tuck (Auckland) for the- first memoralists, W. Johnstone and 17 others ; R. P. Towle (Auckland) and A. Needham (Morrinsville) for the second memorialists, J. Palmer and 14 others ; E. McGregor (Morrinsville) for the third, memorialists, A. G. Scrivener and others.

Inspector Willis (Hamilton) appeared for the police, and lodged a formal objection under section 88 of tire Licensing Act and its amendments.

Mr Towle formally objected to the assignment of the license to Mrs Montgomery on the- grounds of a preferential claim for a license. He contended that there was no machinery in the Act to allow of such an application to be pursued. Mr Tuck submitted that section 30 of the 1910 Act now applied, and contended that no fresh applications could be granted by the existing committee. There was no increase of population, as provided for under section 144 of the Act. The chairman referred to a resolution forwarded by the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Church of Christ churches at Morrinsville which was passed by the congregations, and read as follows : “That this congregation protests against the issue of a publican’s lire-nse to the premises known as the Morrinsville Hotel, situated on the MorrinsvilleHamiltoh road, and respectfully requests the chairman of the Licensing Committee to hold a sitting of the committee at or near Morrinsville in order to allow residents in the neighbourhood of the said hotel an opportunity to appear personally before the Licensing Committee- to object to the issue of the license.” In answer to the Committee Mr McGregor said that he had been instructed to apply for the taking of and there were probably several hundred persons who would give evidence of objection to the granting of a- license, and he submitted that opportunity should be given to hear such evidence-.

Mr Mcteagh replied that he, too, could call evidence of hundreds of people who were in favour of the granting of the license. The chairman said that the wishes of persons who desired to give evidence should be given effect to, if possible, on the principle of hearing both sides. It was apparent, however, that a decision could not be reached that day.

Mr McVeagh said that he strongly objected to an adjournment being granted. He had come prepared to go on with the application. The chairman said thqt the Committee was prepared to hear evidence and argument, and, .if necessary, would later adjourn to near Morrinsville to hear further evidence.

Mr McVeagh agqin objected to the dividing of the case-, which would be of advantage to his opponents. The position was most unfair to counsel, and grossly unfair to his client. Mr McVeagh was granted a few minutes to consult his client on the position which had a.rjsen.

On resuming, Mr McVeagh intimated that his client was desirous of the case being heard and ended at the present sitting. The hotel was nearly completed, and everyone in Morrinsville knew what was going on and had hijd ample time to send forward a representative delegation to give evidence as to objection. It was surely not proposed to hear great lengthy evidence and turn the case into a test of exhaustion. The resolution passed by the churches at Morrinsville carried no more weight than if it had been forwarded by a racecourse committee or a Rugby union. Hojvever, having explained his own and his client’s objection to dividing the case or adjourning it, he would necessarily have to leave the matter in the hands of the Committee. The Committee went into consultation for some minutes, at, the end of which the chairman asked if there ivas a suitable rooom in or near Morrinsville in which a meeting could be held.

Mr McGregor replied that the only suitable place was in one of the new hotel rooms or an adjoining cottage. Tlie Tatuanui Hall would probably be the most suitable place. The chairman said that if it would suit counsel the Committee would meet and determine the application at Paeroa on June 22, at 10 a.m. This arrangement was finally agreed to.