MORRINSVILLE LICENSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5146, 1 July 1927, Page 2

MORRINSVILLE LICENSE.

application granted.

HOTEL OPENS THIS MORNING.

The Ohinemuri Licensing Committee comprising Messrs F. W. Platts, S.M. (chairman), W. Marshall, P. L. Brenan, W. J. Towers, W. M. Wallnutt, F. W. Walters, and the clerk (Mr P. H. Wylde), sat at the Courthouse, Paeroa, yesterday morning. The only business before the Committee was to give a decision in the Morrinsville Hotel case. This was an* application by Thomas Anderson for a publican’s license for new premises to be known as the Morrinsville Hotel, and situated on the corner of Avenue and Hamilton roads, half a mile from the Borough of Morrinsville and on the boundary of the Ohinemuri an Tauranga electorates. The application was on election by Mrs Mgry Blackey Montgomery, and Mr R. MeVea.gh appeared for the applicant. The history of the application is a lengthy one. It was first commenced at the annual meeting of the Committee at Paeroa on June 6 last, and was then adjourned until June 22. On that date the whole day was occupied in hearing the application, during which considerable evidence was tendered and eminent counsel submitted argument in favour of and against the gl anting of the application. The hearing extended into the evening of June 22, and the address by Mr MeVeagh occupied over an hour. At that meeting the Committtee retiied, but returned after a short adjourn men and the chairman announced that the decision would be mtjde known on June 30. The Committee accordingly met in conference at 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning, and shortly after 11 a.m. it occupied the Bench and the chairman announced the following decision:— “The Committtee regards this as a straight-out. application, and as there is no other competing application for a license, in the opinion of the Committee the question of any preference for the applicant does not arise. “The Committee is conscious, of the difficulty of interpreting many of the provisions of the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910, relating to district restoration of licenses. The Committee hopes that these difficulties will be solved by authoritative decision, or be removed by legislation. “A majority of the Committee has decided to grant the application subject to the applicant giving an assurrance that the building and grounds will be completed within one- month from date.”

Mr McVeagh gave the Committee an assurance that the stipulation would receive immediate attention. Mr E. McGregor (Morrinsville), who appeared for A. G. Scrivener and a number of memorialists asked the chairman if he would indicate the voting of the CommitteeAn objection to the information being made public wqs raised by Mr McVeagh, who said that the functions of the Committee were similar to those of a jury.

After consultation with the Committee the chairman announced that the information was not available. The license was issued later in the day, and the Morrinsville Hotel, with Mr T. Anderson as licensee, opened for the sale of alcoholic liquors at 9 o’clock this morning.

It is understood that steps are to be taken by certain parties opposed to the decision to lodge an appeal against the granting of the license.