EGMONT LICENSING COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1919, Page 3

EGMONT LICENSING COMMITTEE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly mooting of the Egmont Licensing Committee was held at Eltham yesterday. Present: Mr. W. K. McKean, S.M. (chairman), ami Messrs W. C. Clement, M. O'Brien, IX. W. J. McNeill, and T. P. llughson. Sergeant Henry appeared tor the uolice.

• Albert Owen Casey (Mr. Powell) applied for a renewal of the license of the Dominion Hotel, Kaponga. The police report stated thai the fire escapes were so defective that they might easily lead to a tragedy. No eifort had been made to have the necessary improvements effected.

Alfred Barnes, representing the owner, said there had been the greatest difficulty in obtaining labor and materials. The steps to the fire escape were not in a dangerous condition, and would, he thought, last as long as the liotel. He was prepared to give an undertaking that the remainder of the repairs would be carried out.

The license was granted, subject to Mr. Barnes carrying out his undertaking. James Hareourt applied for a renewal of a publican's license for the Commercial Hotel, Manaia. It was stated that the requirements of the police had been carried out, and the application was granted.

Charles James Kirk applied for a renewal of the publican's licen.se for the Manaia Hotel. The hearing had been adjourned for three months so that certain repairs could be done and the fire escapes attended to. The police reported that the licensee had been convicted on August 28 of selling liquor after hours and was fined £s.—The application was granted.

Eugene Joyce (Mr. Ryan) applied for a renewal of the publican's license for the Okaiawa Hotel. The police report stated that the hotel during the past three months had been conducted no better than hitherto. The licensee had been fined £o, also his son, for selling liquor after hours. It was stated by "counsel that the application had been adjourned for three month* to enable the licensee to sell out. Joyce wished to get out of tho hotel and had been negotiating with several for its sale. He gave £2OOO for his lease and took the stock and goodwill at valuation. Ho wanted to sell at a fair price, b".t th 0 owner wanted to get the lease at his own price. He submitted that the application should be granted. In reply to a member of the Bench counsel stated that Joyce would sell immediately he found a buyer. A member of the Tfcneh stated that the committee had unanimously come to the conclusion that Joyce was not a fit man to conduct a hotel. Replying to the Bench. Mr. Johnston said that the owner had sold the freehold to a man named Havward, of Auckland, and h e did not doubt that the new owner would make terms with Mr Joyce for hi- lease, ihoiiah he hsul no instructions in this matter and could not sneak definitely. The chairman said that Hayward should pay something for the unexpired term 0 f the lease—The application was adjourned till October 1 The chairman stated that meanwhile, the committee expected Havward to make an offer for the lease, and if he did not make a reasonable- offer ho might find that his license had gone. Charles Lmjwig Kasper (Mr. J I, Weir) applied for a renewal'of' the license for the Enhotu Hotel. The police report stated that tho premises were m exactly the same condition as they were at the last meeting The owner of the hotel, Mr. Hawkins, of New Plymouth, said he was quite anxious to have the repairs now \ n progress done, and he was prepared to carry out the spirit of the committee's requirements for the future. Asked if lie would rebuild or spend £«no or £7OO. he said lie would like lo repair the building. The chairman wns of opinion that a new building was necessary.. Mr. Hawkins said ho was prepared to submit the plans for resteration to any architect nominated by the committee. * The chairman said the application would be adjourned for four weeks. Meanwhile the owner would be required to put in a septic tank, also a flush-down lavatorv upstairs. In regard to restoration the committee would not, insist on this.till after the next, licensing poll, mit it, must bo understood that, before the next annual meeting the building must be restored or a new building erected, and plans must be prepared and passed before the committee at the March meeting.