AFTER-HOUR TRADING

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19902, 3 June 1936, Page 8

AFTER-HOUR TRADING

POLICE ALLEGATIONS. l HOTEL LICENSE OPPOSED. LICENSING COMMITTEE .\IEETS. 1 Strong objection to the re-lssue of a license to Robert Alexander .\icKlnIcy, licensee of the \\'alkalo Hotel. was voiced by the police at the annual meeting of the Hamilton District Licensing Committee yesterday when there were present Messrs S. LiPaterson, S..\l. (chairman). J. R. FOW. B. English, T. G. Reynolds, and T. 15Booth. The clerk reported that these imembers and Mr A. E. .\lanning had been rc-elected to the committee. An application for a new license for iR. T. Reid, Hamilton Hotel (Mr \\'..H. ‘Adamsl and renewals for S. J. Rawlm—‘son, lioyal ilotci, (Mr N. S. Johnson) ‘and U. L. .\‘icholls, Hotel Frankton, were not opposed and were granted ‘suhject to the usual conditions. The ipoilcc offered no objection to the re—llicensihg of K. it. G. l). Uiimour, (Joni—merclal Hotel (Mr J. R. Fitz-Gerald) but the health authorities had some recommendations to make in a letter which was before the committee. on the application of Mr Fitz—Gerald the matter was taken in committee, the chairman stating afterwards that the license would be granted but that the committee would expect definite intormation regarding building pI‘ODOS-i ials at the next annual meeting. ’ Susplolons Confirmed. Senior Sergeant G, H. Lambert. who i conducted proceedings on behalf of the police, stated that he objected to .\tclx‘inley‘s license on the grounds that the hotel was improperly cunduclcd as regards after-hour trading. The police had had their suspicions lor some time in respect to after—hour trading at this hotel and their suspicions were conliirmed last Sunday week when a raid was conducted by him. lle saw~ plenty of evidence of a large amount of alter-hour trading and there were a. number of people in the hotel. 11( stated that six men jumped a counter and got away but he had taken Ilse names and prosecutions would follow. The licensee would also be proceeded against. Regarding the suspicions of the police, he alleged that for some time whenever the police approached the hotel there would be someone on the look-out to give a warning and it was dittlcult to obtain concrete evidence. The police had also received numer—ous anonymous letters and telephone messages in reference to after-hour trading at the Waikato Hotel andhe asked permission to produce one such letter. Mr Paterson (after consultation with the other members of the committee): \\'e do not want to see the letter as we will pay no attention to anonymous letters. Hotel Exoeilently Conducted. In answer to Mr N. S. Johnson. for McKinley. Senior Sergeant Lambert agreed that apart from the after-hour trading the hotel was excellently con—ducted. He agreed that the premises had been visited approximately twice a week without result for some considerable time but denied that constables were hiding behind hedges watching the hotel. . Mr Johnson contended that his client would be pleading guilty to the recent offence. This was on Sunday, May 211. when, besides the trooping of the colour ceremony in Hamilton. there was the Te Itapa race meeting, and the hotel was full of boarders. \\‘ith no lounge downstairs the licensee was entitled to open his private bar for his guests, but unfortunately a few outsiders had also got in. Mr McKinley had been licensee of the hotel for two years and eight months and despite very close surveillance had only been before the Court once. and on that occasion the case was dismissed. He added that the one offence on May ‘24 (lid not justify the sweeping allega—tions of the police. The licensee would appear before the Court on this charge and could be adequately dealt with. Committee's Decision. The committee retired to consider its verdict, the chairman stating that the committee was satisfied that there were some. grounds for the police com~ plaints. To emphasise the displeasure of the committee at the conduct of this hotel, the license would not be renewed and the annual meeting would he adjourned until the next quarterly meeting. The licensee's present license would be carried on until the next meeting and if the conduct was not improved the committee would cousidcr the cancellation of the license.