STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 6, 7 June 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

A SURPRISE JACKET NO CONDITIONAL LICENSES. . SUGGESTION OF BIAS. It was known yesterday, just prior to the Licensing Committee meeting, that there was a possibility of the Licensing Committee coming to a decision not to grant any conditional licenses during the comings year. It was probably a chamber discussion on this matter that caused the committee to keep counsel, and applicants waiting for twenty-eight minutes beforp they thought it advisable to take their seats on the bench. The advertised hour for the sitting was twelve o'clock noon, but it was 12.28 p.m. when the members filed into their places. The I regular business of the meeting had been I completed when the chairman, Mr. W. G. Kenrick, S.M., announced that one of the members of the committee desired to move a resolution respecting the issue of conditional licenses.

Mr. J. Masters then moved, and Mr. W. Morison seconded, "That for the current year, 1913-14, no conditional licenses be granted." Mr. Spence said that, such a resolution, if passed, would effect the Stratford Races and, the Agricultural Show. Mr. Kenrick said that was so. These members of the 'committee were not desirous of issuing any such conditional licenses.

Mr. Spence, speaking as an officer of the Court and on behalf of the public interested,;,' Suggested that' the matter might be adjourned until the next quarterly mepting of the committee, with a view of. allowing deputations of those deeply interested—in the matter to be heard in open court. ! It might be> hasty to pass such a resolution, and then to hear the pros and cons afterwards. He suggested that the committee, might postpone the matter, and give due publication of their intention to move in this direction. The public had a right to fe Tieard. . Mr. Kenrick: Who can be heard? Mr. Spence: While you are a body elective you are also a body judicial, and in that sense alone, as a judicial body, you will surely r hear both sides of the case. The resolution might have a very serious effect. The chairman: There are no conditional licenses existing. Mr. Spence: I merely make this most respectful submission as a solicitor 'of this court to you as a judicial body. In the meantime no harm can be done. No conditional license is likely to be applied for before the next meeting of the committee. "I don't think you can pass this resolution and tie your hands in this way. Of course, when a conditional license is applied for, you can refused it." The chairman: We know all about that, Mr. Spence. What you say applies to ordinary licenses. But a conditional license does not exist at present. It is granted for only one day, or two days. For the bench to pass a resolution, before the hearing, refusing to grant a renewal or a wholesale license would be bad.

Mr. Spence: An application will be made to you in November next for a conditional license for the A. & P. Show. But you will have your hands tied. You may tie the hands of others than yourselves. You may die—but I trust that it will not occur—and it may be that not one of you gentlemen will be sitting on that bench in November next, and you will have tied the hands of the men who follow you." From various causes, Mr. Spence pointed out, the committee might not be constituted as now for the whole year which would be effected by this resolution.

The members of the committee conferred amongst themselves. The chairman was heard to suggest an adjournment for lunch, and that the motion be decided after the adjournment, and he was assured that it would make no difference. The mover was prepared to "put it through." After further korero between the members, Mr. Spence again addressed the bench, stating that in the event of an application for a conditional license being refused, this resolution would be evidence of pre-determina-tion. , He hoped- that the committee would not decide hastily, but would hold over their decision to a future meeting. "That's justice," he concluded. Eventually the chairman announced that the committee had agreed to adjourn the matter till the next quarterly meeting, but would not promise to hear anyone; ■■■■■■■■. • ~ ■

Mr. Spence suggested that the committee might obtain authorities as to the validity or otherwise of such a xesolutioh.

Mr. Kenrick said that if there was power to do what the mover wished, the resolution would be carried at the next quarterly meeting. If there was no power, that would end the'matter at once. Perhaps Mr. Spence would assist the Court by producing authorities on the point. Mr. Spence: With pleasure, your Worship. THE LICENSING COMMITTEE ALL LICENSES RENEWED. The annual meeting of the Stratford Licensing Committee was held yesterday. Mr. W. G. Kenrick, S.M., presided, and the other members of the committee on the bench were: Messrs. W. Morison, J. Masters, 11. Curtis, Jacob Therkleson, and Athol Meredith. , LICENSES RENEWED. Renewals were granted as follows: James Rothery (Mr. T. C. Pookes), Whangamomona Hotel. Andrew M. Robertson (Mr. R. Spence), Mount Egmont Hotel, Midhirst. Mrs. Annie Abbott (Mr. Rutherfufd), Stratford Hotel, Stratford. William Robert Bonner (Mr. Rutherfurd), Tariki Hotel, Tariki. John Fitzgerald (Mr. Spence), Empire Hotel. Stratford. William P. Kirkwood (Mr. Spratt), County Hotel, Stratford. Mrs, Nora Sullivan (Mr. Spratt), Commercial Hotel, Stratford. Charles Diamond (Mr. Spenceh Club Hotel, Stratford. Robert Morison (Mr. Rutherfurd), Toko Junction Hotel, Toko. SOME DISCUSSION. When the Stratford Club Hotel application was made, Sergeant McNeely reported that, as required by the committee, the stables at the rear of the hotel had been demolished. Mr. Spence stated that the stables had been removed by the free er, in compliance with the behest of the committee. There had been mud! acrimony in the three-sided duel between the Health Department, Borough Council and Licensing Committee, but there was notmng insanitary in the stables. These had been removed merely because the committee insisted on it.' The chairman: The committee woihu not have insisted on it, otherwise. Mr. Spence: You did not see them yourselves. You obeved the Health Deiattment. The Borough Council declined

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to have the' stables pulled down, being convinced they were not insanitary, eo the Department came to the Licensing Bench.

j Mr. Kenrick: We acted on our own f opinion. The Health Department did not 1 j direct, us. ... . . . They never or- | dered the committee to have it done. J In the case of the Toko Junction Hotel, Sergeant McNeely said there was ' no police objection, excepting that the f licensee had been cbnvicted last month i for selling liquor to a youth under 21 (years of age.—Xhe chairman said that the licensee had been punished for that offence, and the committee had nothing to say about it, except that in the event of there being any further conviction the committee might have come to the conclusion that the licensee was not a lit and proper person to hold the license. WHOLESALE LICENSE. A wholesale license was granted to D. J. Malohe, Stratford (Mr. Spratt). A QUESTION,OF PROCEDURE. , It is a peculiar thing, tout a fact, that in different districts, licensees have different duties to perform or forms' to comply with in-order to satisfy the Licensing Bench that they should obtain renewals of their hotel licenses. Every now and again a magistrate will break out in a fresh place, and introduce something new in the way of proi cedure. Not so very long ago the practice in the Stratford Court was that counsel appearing for the applicant verbally assured the bench that all the neojessary advertising had been done and i forms complied with, and, in the absence of any police objection, the license issued as it were, automatically.. Of course, in the event of an unfavourable police report, or the anticipation of trouble from." any quarter, the licensee was required to be in attendance, but otherwise the procedure resembled that of an undefended civil action. Then a year or so ago,, the chairman ruled that the applicant must appear in person. Consequently there was quite a big gathering of hotel-1 keepers at the Stratford Courthouse yesterday for the annual meeting of the Committee. Mr. Fookes formally apj plied for the issue of the license for the j Whangamomona Hotel, put in news: papers as proof of advertising, and so on! The chairman asked for an affidavit that the statutory notice of the intention to apply for the license had been posted on the main entrance door of the hotel continuously for at least 21 days prior' to the meeting. Replying to counsel, Mr. Kenrick said it was manifestly; impossible for counsel to give this evi- j dence in the ease.pf<th6 outlying hotels. V It could toe given only by the applicant. I In the absence of sueh affidavit, he must put the applicant in the box to give evidence of compliance with the law in . this respect. ' Mr. Spence made some remarks concerning, the want of uniformity in the ''< Courts in this matter. It had never . been the practice in this Court to do : as was now ruled. It. was in his mind that this affidavit dispensed with the need for «appearance by either counsel or applicant, and he said that this had been the regular practice in other places • where city counsel were represented in i applications before dountry committees. Might he suggest that the Court obtain information as to the practice adopted by Mr. Beetham, S.M., Mr. Bishop, S.M., or Dr. McArthur, S.M. He hoped this Court was not going to be bound by the ruling of someone in some remote place. Continuing, he said that licensees complained now of the expense they were put to in applying for licenses, and now it seemed they would have to pay for this declaration. Mr. Sfence and Mr. Fookes assured the ehairman that in : Stratford for thirteen years and more, and in New Plymouth, the committees had got along very nicely without this' declaration, but Mr. Kenrick, in his mild way was firm, and said the evidence regarding the posting of the notice on the door was important, and must toe supplied. In the absence of a sworn declaration, or sworn evidence in the box, there would be no future record that the ' Committee had been satisfied on that point, The applicants would either have to go into the box, prolonging the sittings, or file this declaration.

Subsequently Mr. Spratt (Mr. W. G. Malone) made two applications in the form prescribed, and the licenses were granted without the applicants putting in an appearance—a reversal of the previous ruling by the chairman. Mr. Spratt was evidently acquainted with Mr. Kenrick's practice in Hawera.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS At St., Joseph's euchre party on Thursday, Mrs. Walsh and Mr. Eichstadt, both of Waipuku, carried off the prizes. Mrs. Brooking provided 'the supper, and Mrs. Bianchi supplied gratuitous music in her well-known style. Is money plentiful? Are people paying up? Or, it is hopeless? There was only one judgment in the S.M. Court yesterday, when A. W. Kemp obtained judgment against V. W. Bevins on a claim of £0 12s, with costs amounting to £1 8s Gd.

A warning! A man named Ryan was fined 10s and costs at Stratford yesterday for driving at night without lights. The S.M. said the practice would have to be stopped, and he might find it necessary to increase the penalties. There was a capital attendance on Thursday evening at the Stratford Lawn Tennis Club's annual social in the Parish Hall. The arrangements were excellent. The M.C.'s, who were most assiduous in their duties, were Messrs. W. H. Young, V. Crawshaw, and A. L. Jones, and the two latter gentlemen were the joint secretaries. Messrs. Richardson nd Kelly (piano and cornet) were the musicians, extras being played by Mrs Rcnnd], Miss 1). Bayly, and Messrs lhompson and Crawshaw. The supper was provided by the ladies, and wasin every way excellent.

<( Ladies are not likely to miss the specials' advertised in' Herbert's "Up-to-date" wanteds in this issue « At TO„ T H, c - ptin " of tllß )oei ' l brail(, » of the W.C.T.U. this week, there was a discussion upon the Biblc-in-Schools question A copy of the toxt-book was produced, as well as a number of newspaper clippings on the question. The discussion was of a helpful nature, and members are now giving the matter earnest consideration, and particular y the contents of the text-book itself . A hot dinner at Elder's to-day <x\V be just the thing, eh?