LICENSING MEETING

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2869, 5 June 1882, Page 2

LICENSING MEETING

• TIMARU. Monday, J une 5. [Before Messrs E. G. Kerr (chairman, J. C. McKorrow, E. G. Stericker, W. C. Besvvick, and Dr. Macintyre.] Tbe annual meeting of the Licensing Committee was held to-day, at the Rcsident Magistrate’s Court. POLICE REPORT. The Chairman stated that the report on the houses was satisfactory, with one exception. RENEWALS. Renewals were granted to John Meikle,.Grosvonor Hotel; D. McGuinness, Ship Hotel; Thomas Flaherty, Shamrock Hotel; T. O’Priscoll, Hibernian Hotel; A. J. Parsons, Club Hotel; E. Melton, Timaru Hotel; G, Newey, Criterion Hotel; A. O. G. Stone, Stone’s Hotel ; W. L. Edwards, Clarendon Hotel; J. Mcßeth, Old Bank Hotel; M. Mullins, . Melville Hotel ; D. Maloney, Lynwood Hotel; C. Green, Queen’s Hotel.

TWELVE O’CLOCK LICENSES.

All the above applicants applied for 12 o’clock licenses ; they also applied to be exempted from keeping a lamp burning outside their hotel.

After some consideration, the chairman said the r committee had found great difficulty in coming to a decision in the matter of 12 o’clock licenses. They regretted very much that the Act did not fix’tbe hour at 11 oc’dock for ordinary licenses. If it had done so the committee would have refused any extension after 11 o’clock, as they considered that hodr quite late enough for any public-house to be open. It was necessary for the accommodation of the commercial and travelling- public that a few houses in the town should have an extended license, but the difficult question for the committee was, where to draw the line. If three or four houses were granted an extension of their licenses till 12 o’clock, and the others were compiled to close at 10 o’clock, the people who wanted drink between the hours of 10 and 12, would flock to the late houses. Night drinking would not be checked byftbis course but the business of publicans who were compelled to close at 10 o’clock might be seriously injured.. It was the duty, of the Committee to consider what was best for the public, hut while so ' cOnsidering, it was their duty to see that undue advantage was not given to one publican over another. They had decided ,not to mate any invidious distinction’, so had come to the conclusion to grant all the applications except one. The one they refused was the Lynwood Hotel, but the, reason of . refusal was, that the hotel and premises were generally in ,a state of bad repair, - and the house had not /been well conducted by the former licensee. If the.new licensee improved the house and premises before the next quarterly meeting, and proved to the satisfaction of the- police and Bench that he was properly conducting the house, a ,12 o’clock license would be granted as in the case of the other hotels. The Comnjittee regretted they could not, in fairness, see their way to refusing 12 o’clock licenses, but the requirements of tbe town,, and the law as it at present existed, gave them no option. They hoped to see the Licensing Act amended so as to mak.o 11 o’clock the closing -hour for all hotels. With regard to the applications to be exempted from keeping lamps burning- in front of their hotels, the Committee’ had decided that all hotels .should keep a lamp burning till the hour of closing. The question of total exemption from burning A light in front of hotels would bo considered at next quarterly meeting. . Mr Parsons asked if the Committee would express an opinion as to whether the holder of a twelve o’clock license was compelled to keep his house open till twelve o’clock. Ho was, certain a good many of the; hotelkeepers would like to close before that hour. The Chairman said whatever opinion the CommitteesSThight hold on the subject they could not tender advice. The question might yet have to come up before the Magistrate and he as a Magistrate, would not bind himself by giving an .opinion. ! . .