LICENSING BENCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10296, 3 June 1919, Page 9

LICENSING BENCH

ANNUAL MEETING MAJORITY OF HOTELS WELL CONDUCTED. The annual meeting of tlie Welling-' ton Licensing Committee was held at noon yesterday, when the following wore on the Bench; —Mr W. G. Bidden, S.M. (chairman), and Messrs W. J. Hildreth, J. Smith, G. Tiller, G. J. Fetherick and W. Helyer. The chairman said that according to the police report the majority of the hotels had been well conducted during the past year. Thero were four hotels, however, which did not enjoy that reputation, namely, the Princess, Metropolitan, Shamrock, and New Commercial. Seeing that there were only four, out of a large number, which were not conducted in a satisfactory manner, it seemed to tho committee that the licensees of the premises mentioned should have been able to bring their promises under tho category occupied by the majority. The Metropolitan and Foresters’ Arms had been reported as requiring certain repairs, as some parts of tho buildings woro not in good condition. It was in tho interests of tho licensees for these houses to make the buildings fitted for the reception of the public, and to that end the repairs should be carried out at once. There had been a number of convictions in connection with licensed houses during the past quarter, but they did not call for spe- . cial comment. THE POLICE , REPORT. The Inspector of Police, in h:s annual report, stated that he had made a complete inspection of the various hotels in the city, and the majority of thorn were found to bo in a satisfactorv condition. In regard to the Metropolitan Hotel, tho roof was discovered to be in a bad condition, and not weatherproof. Water leaked into three of the hodroom, the guests’ sitting-room, and the upstairs passage. The rooms and the coiling of the passage required renovating, and the washhouse in the yard was old and inconvenient, and a new structure -was needed. At the Foresters’ ■ Arms Hotel the outbuildings were in a dilapidated state and some of the weather-boarding and studs bad decayed. Tho building required pulling down and a new one erected. CONDUCT REPORTS. In respect to the conduct of hotels during the past twelve months Inspector Marsack said that the license of the New Commercial Hotel had been held by Mrs C. J.. Durrani, widow of tho late licensee A.- R. Durrant, since her husband’s death, and ’ during the term of her management the hotel had not been satisfactorily conducted. There were grounds for suspicion that a considerable trade, during prohibited hours, was carried on, as frequently police Sergeants, on visiting the hotel after hours, had found men who wore known to he* residents of the city, on the premises drinking. On each occasion Alcs-Durrant claimed the men -as lodgers and showed their names as being entered in the bedroom hook, which the police alleged was a subterfuge. The house was also frequented by a prominent bookmaker, and it was common rumour that betting was carried on in the hotel, and with tho connivance of Mrs Durrant. although no direct evidence had been obtained to support a prosecution. The Princess Hotel, of which James Elleray was The licensee, had only been fairly satisfactory during the past year. A number of persons had been convicted at different times for being found on the premises after hours, under circumstances which gave grounds for suspicion that trading during prohibited hours had been carried on. The licensee had been convicted for refusing to admit the police promptly and fined £5, while further charges of a similar nature were pending.

Henry Robert Wallace, licensee of the Metropolitan Hotel, bad only conducted the premises fairly satisfactorily. During the year men had been convicted for being found on the provisos during prohibited hours under suspicious circumstances. Drunken men had also been seen in the vicinity of the premises. The license of the Shamrock Hotel had been held by Johanna Oben, widow of the late licensee (H. W. Oben) by permit. For some time after the present licensee took over the management of the promises the hotel was conducted somewhat • loosely, and numbers of drunken men had been seen in the vicinity. During the past month, after a warning had been given, the conduct had considerably improved. In conclusion Inspector Marsack stated that the provisions of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Act, and of the War Regulation, causing hotels to be closed during the landing of troops, had boon on the whole well observed, although some minor convictions had bedh recorded. .APPLICATIONS GRANTED.

Transfers, renewals, new applications in respect to old houses, wholesale and packet licenses were granted as follow :

Pertnanont Transfers.—J. S. Duncan to J. S. Vial, Grand; Edith Bessie Carrig to Edith Bessie Carrig (administratrix), Clyde quay; Johanna Oiben to Johanna Obon (administra,trix), Shamrock; O. J. Durrant to C. J. Durrant, Commercial. Now Applications.—Johanna Oben, Shamrock; Edith Bessie Carrig, Clyde quay; Edward J ames Stewart, Cricketers’ Arms; John James Eirth, Albion; G. 11. Tiller, Brunswick; Thomas Kingston, Occidental; J. S. Vial, Grand; M. J. J- Roche, Caledonian; Charles E. Aldridge, Grand. Renewals. —8. Gilmer, Royal Oak; Philip Lucass Firth, Cambridge; Louis Porcivul O’Brien, Masonic; John Charles Mason, Panama; Annie Agnes Holbrook, Dominion; J. J. Morriott, Western Park; Arthur McDonald, Central; O. F. Priest, Terminus; A. J. Monro, New Zealander; H- W. Barrs, The City; Martin Gleeson, Royal Tiger; Joseph Dwyer, Midland; Richard Dwyer, Empire; David Batten, Barrett’s; M. W. Muir, Post Office; F. J. Oakes, Duke of Edinburgh ; Annin Sullivan, Pier; Frederick Dobson, Clarendon; James Dealy, Railway; F. Hilton, National; Percy' Mills, Royal; B. 0. Englnndh, Brittanniu; Percy lingers, To Aro; B. O’Brien, Victoria; William Hannalin, Thistle Inn; James Elleray, Princess; .Martin-. Ryan, Wellington ; Percy Curtis, Imperial; James, McDonald, Albert; M. J. O’Brien, Prince of Wales; Mrs F. M. Paulsen, Carlton; Honpra Whelan, Alhambra; Francis Eugene MoParland, Tramway;. ,P. J. Griffin,

Gresham; James McFarland,' Cecil; Marv McGuire, White Swan. Wholesale Licenses. —A. E. Kernot, (Ltd., Peter S. Lawrie,' Faery, Beveridge and Co., Ltd., Reginald Collins, Ltd., David Anderson and Son, John Mcllraith, William David Dobson, Harold William Crown, Ellis and Manton, Ltd., Wairarapa Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Ltd., Gollin and Co. Proprietary, Ltd., W. M. Bannatyne and Co., Ltd., Levin and Co., Ltd., Frank Wells, E. T, Taylor, Preston and Co., T. W. Young. Packet Licenses. —Manuka, Mocraki, Fatooua, and Manouriku. APPLICATIONS ADJOURNED. Sir John Findlay, K.C., who appeared for tho licensee of the Now Commercial Hotel, suggested that the renewal of the license be adjourned for three months. Ho added that the licensee had" undertaken to remedy any possible faults mentioned by tho police. The suggestion was agreed to. Sir John Findlay added that in the meantime ho was making no admissions. OTHER CASES.

In respect to the Metropolitan Hotel, Mr T. Young, who appeared for tho licensee, said his client had sold out. The necessary repairs to the premises were to be carried out by the landlord and licensee. • The lease ol tho promises had expired, and the present licensee was just holding on. Inspector Marsack said that a similar report was made regarding the hotel last year 1 , and the repairs had not yet been effected. Mr A. W. Blair, who represented the landlord of tho Metropolitan Hotel, "stated that tho repairs would be carried out, and an adjournment was granted for a month for that purpose.

Respecting the Princess Hotel, Mr T. Young said that the licensee (James Elleray), who was only a monthly tenant, had disposed of his interest, and was leaving the premises almost immediately.

Inspector Marsack said the repairs had been carried out, but the conduct of the hotel had not been satisfactory. Mr* Young repeated that Mr Elleray was leaving the premises. Inspector Marsack* replied that that was so much tho bettor for the house. Mr Young said that if the character of the licensee was in question he desired to call evidence. Tho chairman said thero was no necessity to call evidence, and the application would ho granted. Mr Young,. who appeared for the licensee of the Foresters’ Arms, applied for a renewal of the "license. Ho stated that the present licensee was a monthly tenant, and had not received a notice from tho police in respect to repairs being carried out.

Mr A. W. Blair said tho landlords had received a notice, and the work was to be carried out as early as possible.

The granting of the, renewal of the license was adjourned till July '/th.