A LICENSE OPPOSED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3774, 17 September 1907, Page 4

A LICENSE OPPOSED.

Christchurch, Saturday

The adjourned hearing of the objections by the police to the renewal of the license of the Criterion Hotel was held before the Christchurch licensing Committee yesterday afternoon. The information was laid under section 76, sub-section 3, of the Licensing Act of 1881, which was as follows: “ It shall be lawful for the Licensing Committee at any quarterly licensing meeting to determine and put an end to any license then current if it shall be pioved to their satisfaction that the licensed house is conducted in an improper manner, or that the holder of such license is openly and repeatedly intoxicated, or that any conditions upon which the license was granted have not been fulfilled in a satisfactory manner.” The alleged misconduct of the house occurred during six or seven months, roughly coinciding with the period of the Exhibition. The main allegation was that the house had six or seven barmaids who were used to incite people to drink to excess, and who were ‘ ‘ shouted ’ ’ for by customers, and were frequently intoxicated. The customers were pressed to ‘ ‘ shout ’ ’ champagne for the girls. A large quantity of very contradictory evidence was given, and the case adjourned till Wednesday afternoon next, in order that the licensee, who could not attend through illness, might be present.