THE GORE LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume VI, Issue 288, 11 September 1883, Page 2

THE GORE LICENSING COMMITTEE.

The quarterly meeting of this Committee was held at the Courthouse on Friday last, nil the members being present, viz., Messrs Heattie (chairman), Gardiner, Aitken, Martini iind Smaill. POLICE REPORT.

Constable Pratt read the police report, which as regarded existing licenses was very favorable. In accordance with the wish of the committee as expressed at its last meeting, the proprietor of the Chatton Hotel, Mr Morris,had now no direct means of communication between his hotel and store, and at Waikaka Mrs Edge's store and hotel, were now also practically separated. As to new applications, the police opposed the issue of a license to Mr Hunter, Stoney Creek, on the grounds that the house was not required and that it was beyond the power of the Licensing Bench to grant a license. They had n» objection to an 11 o'clock license being granted to Mr Fishanden ; but would object to the proposed transfer of the Otamete license to the Railway Hotel at Riversdale on the grounds that a second house was not required there and that its distance from M.r Ross' was so great as to render the application a most unusual one.

GORE : WAIKAKA. On the application of Mr Johnston, Geo. Fisheaden was granted an 11 o'clock license* counsel pointing out that this would only place him on an equality with the other hotelkeepers in Gore. A transfer of the license of the Star Hotel, Waikaka, fro in G. Harrop to M. O'Rourke was applied for by Mr Henderson and granted. APPLICATION FO* TRANSFER. Duncan Ross applied to h&ve his license for the Otamete Hotel transferred to the i Railway Hotel, Kiversdale, which, he had leased. Mr Finn (with him Mr Henderson) in support of the application ; Mr Wade against.

Mr Finn, in opening, said the applicant's fitness to hold a license was unquestioned and the suitableness of the house for an hotel waa beyond doubt. At the last meeting of the] committee an application had been made in Mr Bennett's name for a license for this house, but this the Bench had in ite discretion seen fit to refuse, their only objection being that the house was not required in the district. The evidence on that occasion was unfortunately somewhat slender owing to cirenmstancas he need not detail, but there were now in Court a number of gentlemen who would clearly show that the house was required for the accommodation of the travelling public. They would show that Riversdale was a place increasing in all the factors of prosperity, and a place owing to railway works and the opening up of land fast com. ing into great importance.

J. G. Bennett, sworn, said he had resided in the district for three and a half years, and knew Mr Gee'a house, which was admittedly well conducted, but another hotel was greatly needed. Settlement waa going on rapidly in the district, some 3000 or 4000 acres of land having bean sold or perpetually leased lately. In: addition there were numerous contracts including one large one for railway works. To Mr Wade— Did not think increased drunkenness would follow an increased number of licensed houses. .Was applicant for a license for a second hotel at Riversdale at the last sitting of the committee, and no objection was raised to his fitness, tha. license being declined because the committee thought the ho.use unnecessary. Since .then, .they had visited the district. Mr 'Sea's house was uncomfortably crowded at times, and trade waa I likely to increase in the district.

Alexander M'Kay deposed that in his opinion a second house was required, though he had nothing to say against Mr Gee.

Geo. Munro deposed that when travelling stock he had been unable to get whisky or stabling accommodation at Mr Gee's, having had to wait twenty minutes for the former. An hotel was not required at the Otamete.

Mr Finn (to witness) : You have been on a Licensing Bench, I believe ? Witness : Tes. Mr Wade : But you are not a member now? Witness : No ; I was so much disgusted that I never wish to be on one again. — (Laughter).

Duncan Ross gave evidence, stating that a second house was required at Riveradale. No hotel was needed at Otamete, For the polioo,

Constable Pratt denied that there was any necessity for opening a second hotel, although he admitted the circumstances had slightly changed since the last licensing meetiug, the railway having been commenced. Still, he undorstood only five or six men were to be be employed on it for some time. — To Mr Finn : My opinion is that no houses at all of the kind are required.

Mr Wade then addressed the Committee. Threa months ago, he said, the Bench had refused a license to Mr Bennett, whose fitness to hold one had not been questioned, and now by a Bide- wind Bennett tried to get a. reversal of the Committee's d^oisian. Three months agp they declared that the house waa not required. The circumstances of tie district had not changed, and now Bennett wanted to hood- wink them, and Boss asked them to be the laughing stock of the 'community, to to stultify themselves by saying that thejr action on the las^ . pocasiion w*|s. imprpper, irregular, and wrpng. He put it to. them as gentlemen, as guardians of the public interest*, that they ihould not give to one man what had been refused to another, unless they wished thsir impartiality questioned and the charge made' thakthey wanted fa do a good turn to a particular man. He refused to believe that the Bench would be swayed by j such considerations.

Mr Finn said the circumstances three months ago and. now were not identical, the evidenoe on t&is Qcoaajon having been convincing and wholly uncpntr«dicted. Again, the number of licensed in the district would not be increased. Th« learned gentler man went on to dispute tke contention raised by some that the druakenhess of the nation increased with the incraase of licensed houses in one plage, showing by statistic* from the f Edinburgh Bev}ew' that rather the opposite was the base. |"ar his own. part he would, not object to free trade 'in liquor under. cer, tain restrictions. He held that sufficient evidence had been adduced to satisfy the committee that the license should be transferred from a place at which it was not needed to a district where a second hotel was required.

Ihe Committee, after a shart retirement, granted the application, the announcement being followed by applause in 'the body of the Court,

XBW LIOKNBB. K\ Mr Finn, with him Mr Henderson, applied oh behalf of Thomas Hunter for a license for ; a house at Sioney Greek, Quoting authorities* to show that the Bench had power to grant a license, at a quarterly: nieetihg, ans adducing the evidence of T. Hunter an^'D. Dun in support of the applicatioa. , ' , . . The ''Committee intimated tkat they did not , wish .to strain the meaning of the Acl. The license would be refused.

IN CLOSING, The Chairman stated that it; was satisfactory to find such a favorable police report presented. It might be advisable,' he thought, to have even more efficient means of «upervision than at present, and the best way to attain this would be the appointment of an . inspector . not known in the district to examine and report on the houses, tpeading a few dayt at each at intervals.