CONDUCT OF HOTEL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 14

CONDUCT OF HOTEL

BOOKING ARRANGEMENT. POLICE COMMENT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Fcpt. 18. Evidence regarding the conduct of Victoria Hotel, recently placed out of bounds by the military authorities for soldiers in uniform, was given at the adjourned quarterly meeting of the Auckland Licensing Committee, when application bv the temporary licensee, Normal Samuel Fraser (Mr Elliot), for confirmation of the transfer of the license to him was being considered. Sergeant Dennehy said he visited the hotel regularly for a year and often found largo numbers of soldiers and. sailors on the premises. He sometimes had a little bother when checking arrangements for. booking in lodgers. On August 11 he found the licensee under the influence of liquor and not capable of looking after the hotel. Sergeant Taylor eaid there were 25 rooms in the hotel. On June 21 he found there were bookings for 42 beds and 54 shakedowns, and on Jtdy 12 for 27 beds and 43 shakedowns. There were many soldiers in the lounge, and the licensee said he did not like to see soldiers walking the streets and was only doing what he could to accommodate them. “I know lie has sometimes telephoned the police station, and even called at the watchhouse for permission to take in more men,” witness said in cross-examination. ‘‘lf ho supplied them with shakedowns the committee would not take exception,” said the chairman (Mr W. R. McKean, S.M.). METHOD OF BOOKING. “The method of booking people in, we suggest, is only a blind,” said StibInepeetor Pender, representing the police. Sergeant Adams said sailors were charged Is Gd and soldiers and airmen 2s 6d for a night’s lodging. On August 16 ho lound there were bookings lor 78 beds and shakedowns, but there were not more than 50 beds. At 8.30 p.m. on August 20 he found 30 soldiers on the premises. One Territorial was a local resident and made a statement that lie went to the hotel to obtain liquor and had no intention of staying there. He paid nothing, but was allotted a room by tho hotel. As a result, the licensee was convicted for selling liquor after hours and fined £7 10s. A barman was fined £4 for supplying liquor, and the soldier. £1 for being unlawfully on the premises. The liecnseo testified that lie was certified by a doctor as completely sober 40 minutes after he was seen by the police on August 11. He had never had any complaints from the polico about the conduct of the hotel, yet they visited tho place on an average once every night and paid as many as five visits in one night, even calling at 5 a.m. to check tho number of lodgers booked in on the pievious night. MILITARY DECISION.

Mr McKean: Why have the military authorities ruled the hotel out o bounds?—l don’t know of any reason. I have had no complaints from tne military authorities. Mr McKean; They must know something of what goes on in your hotel. The licensee; The Navy has asked me to look after its men and keep them there. , v Counsel said he wrote to the Nortnern Military District, asking foi rea sons in placing the hotel out of bounds He received the following rcr>lv- “It is regretted that it is not considered that this headquarters should give reasons to a civilian for the issue of instructions in the interests of military discipline. “We cannot answer the char*., when no reasons are given for it and I ask the committee to disregard it entirely,” counsel 6aid. “It is conceivable that the Arm- action followed the instigation of the police, and if that, is the case it is not a separate/charge at all. There may be some military or other reason which lias nothing whatever to do with the Licensing Act. . Counsel added that there was no evidence of any system as tlio .police alleged. Tho police almost lived tlieie, and if there was anything wrong they would have found it. There was only one isolated conviction, which was not sufficient to charge tho licensee mth operating a system. PROVISION OF SHAKEDOWNS.

“The police are against the provision of shakedowns, so I propose to ask the committee to give a ruling in the in atter,” continued Mr Elliot. “Ihe police look upon it with suspicion and say it is a downright bad practice/’ Mr McKean: You don’t suggest that soldiers arc charged 2s Gd merely for the privilege of occupying a bed ? . ~ “Hotelkeepers are now m a predioament,” 6aid Mr Elliot. i ‘They. do not know whether to accept men of the services or refuse them lodging. Licensees find it very awkward, and the committee should rule whether they should refuse to take soldiers in.” Mr McKean ; The committee is not goinf to tell licensees what to do, but it has no objection to accommodation being given to any soldier. Mr Pender: The police have no objection tas long as the hooking is genuine. ~ The committee adjourned to consider its decision after which the chairman announced that a majority was of opinion that the licensee’s application for confirmation of his transfer should be granted.