OUT OF BOUNDS FOR SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 11

OUT OF BOUNDS FOR SOLDIERS

VICTORIA HOTEL AT AUCKLAND

EVIDENCE OF CONDUCT OF PREMISES

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 18. Evidence regarding the conduct of the 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 an application by the temporary licensee, Norman Samuel Fraser (Mr Elliot) for confirmation of the transfer of licence to him was being considered. Sergeant Dennehy said he visited the hotel regularly for a year and often found a large number of soldiers and sailors on the premises. He sometimes had a little bother when checking arrangements for booking in the lodgers. On August 11 he found the licensee under the influence of liquor and not capable of looking after the hotel. Sergeant Taylor said there were 25 rooms in the hotel. On June 21 he found there were bookings for 42 beds and 54 shakedowns, and on July 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 he has sometimes telephoned the police station and even called at the watchhouse for permission to take in more men,” the witness said in cross-examination.

“If he supplied them with shakedowns the committee would not take exception,” said the chairman, Mr W. R. McKean, S.M. “The method of booking people in, we suggest, is only a blind,” said SubInspector Pender, representing the police. Sergeant Adams said sailors were charged 1/6 and soldiers and airmen 2/6 for the night’s lodging. On August 16 he found there were bookings for 78 beds and shakedowns, but there were not more than 50 beds. At 8.30 p.m. on August 29 he found 30 soldiers on the premises. One territorial was a local resident and made a statement that he went to the hotel to obtain liquor and had no intention of staying there. He paid nothing, but was allotted a room by the hotel. As a result the licensee was convicted- for selling liquor after hours and fined £7/10/-, the barman was fined £4 for supplying liquor and the soldier £1 for being unlawfully on the premises.

• NO COMPLAINTS BY POLICE The licensee testified that he 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 police about the conduct of the hotel, yet they visited the 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 the number of lodgers booked in on the previous night. Mr McKean: Why have the military authorities ruled the hotel out of bounds?

"I don’t know of any reason. I have had no complaints from the military authorities.”

Mr McKean: They must know something of what goes- on in your hotel. The licensee: Tire Navy has asked me to look after its men and keep them there.

Counsel said he wrote to the Northern Military District asking for reasons in placing the hotel out of bounds. He received the following reply: “It is regretted that it is not considered that this headquarters should give reasons to a civilian for fhe issue of instructions in the interests of military discipline.” “We cannot answer the charge when no reasons are given for it, and I ask the committee to disregard it entirely,” counsel said. “It is conceivable that the Army 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 has nothing whatever to do with the Licensing Act.”

Counsel .added that there was no evidence of any system, as the police alleged. The police almost lived there and if there was anything wrong they would have found it. There was only one isolated conviction, which was not sufficient to charge the licensee with operating a system. “The police are against the provision of shakedowns, so I propose to ask the committee to give a ruling in the matter,” continued Mr Elliot. “The police look upon it with suspicion and say that it is a downright bad practice.” Mr McKean: You don’t suggest that soldiers are charged 2/6 merely for the privilege of occupying a bed? POSITION OF LICENSEES “Hotel keepers are now in a predicament,” said Mr Elliot. “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: Hie committee is not going to tell the licensees what to do, but it has no objection to accommodation being given to any soldier. Sub-Inspector Pender: The police have no objection as long as the booking is genuine. The committee adjourned to consider its decision,, after which the chairman announced that the majority was of the opinion that the licensee’s application for confirmation of his transfer should be granted.