LICENSING BENCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1916, Page 6

LICENSING BENCH.

ADJOURNED MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranalu Licensing Committee, adjourned to consider the applications for licensing the Oakura, J wminus (Kew Plymouth) ami Railway Hotel (lnglewood), took piacc yesterday, when there were present: Messrs. A. Crooke, S.M. (chairman), W. Ambury, J. B. Connett, D. H. .McDonald, F. P. Corkill, and W, L. Newman.

THE OAKI'RA HOTEL. Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for the Mr. Jas. Rothe-ry. He explained that at the annual meeting a question arose as to some undertaking having been given at the previous annual meeting to rebuild. The bench itself had taken the view that some statement had been made that 110 application would be made again for a license for house. As he had ®nl}' been instructed a few moments previously lie could not say anything on the matter. He had a'memo, that certain work asked for had been done. He had since conferred with Mr J. E. Wilson. It was quite possible that some statement had been made in general conversation that a new house would be erected, but it was not in the nature of an undertaking. He now had authority to say that Mr. Rotherv would undertake to erect a new house. He was willing to do so at once if the committee so desired it, but it was almost impossible to obtain labor and material cost more. Ho would prefer to rebuild after the war, when he would be able to put up a better building at a cheaper rate.

The chairman said that some definite understanding would be required that a new building would be erected beFore next annual meeting. Last annual meeting, in order to give an opportunity of rebuilding, the committee only insisted on the minimum that wa.s absolutely essential to the carrying on of the house, consistent with public safety and public health.

Mr. Connett said that plans must be submitted in time for the building to be erected, not two or three months before the annual meeting. Mr. A. H. Johnstone undertook to submit the plans before next quarterly meeting. When tliey were passed, tenders would be called. It was, however, impossible almost to get carpenters.

Mr. Connett: They must trust the committee to consider that. The chairman said the committee did not ask impossibilities.

The license was renewed on condition that a new hotel ivas erected before next annual meeting, plans to be submitted before next quarterly meeting.

THE TERMINUS HOTEL. Mr. A. H.. Johnstone appeared in support of the application for the renewal of the Terminus Hotel. Mr. A. H. Kendall, Inspector to the Tnranaki District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, forwarded a copy of the requirements in connection with the hotel, which had been handed to Srtl>Inspector Fouhy by direction of tlie District Health Officer (Dr. Sydney Smith). The report enumerated a list of the minimum requirements that were urgently needed at the above hotel. This being a very old building, it would require considerable expenditure every year to keep it in anything like a safe and sanitary condition. The chairman said if Mr. Johnstone had not received notice of the objection, he was entitled to an adjournment. Mr Johnstone hoped that the matter would be dealt with, Decause as time went on the Health Department would be ssking more. Some of the work asked had been done last year at a cost of £3OO. Quite recently, too, a notice had been received by the Borough Council, and now they received a different one. The chairman considered this substituted the other.

Mr. Johnstone said he knew, though not officially, that the Borough solicitor was serving notice of the Health Department's requirements on the owner. The matter should be done in a judicial way. The sending of a notice to the Licensing Committee was an endeavor to force the licensee to do what the owner should do. The chairman said the Public Health Officer had no locus standi unless the police put the report forward as an objection. Sub-Inspector Fouhy said that the police did so.

Mr. Johnstone held the notice to be informal, as it had to be served ten days before the meeting.

The chairman said the committee could accept it, but they must have proper evidence on the matter. The committee adjourned the application until June 27, to see whether the Borough Council is taking action under the Public Health report. If not, he thought the objections should be dealt with by the committee.

RAILWAY HOTEL (Inglewood). Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared in support of the application for the Railway Hotel, Inglewood. He stated that part of the work asked by the police had already been done and that repairs had also been put in hand on a much wider scale than asked by the police.—Renewal granted. BREAKWATER HOTEL. Mr. T. Knowles, for whom Mr. H \l. Billing appeared, was granted a month's extension of the temporary license for the Breakwater Hotel.