A KNOTTY PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3536, 29 May 1912, Page 2

A KNOTTY PROBLEM.

SHOULD A BILLIARD SALOON BE ALLOWED IN KAITI?

BOROUGH. COUNCIL SAYS “NO.”

Billiard -saloons were discussed by the Borough' Council at some length last evening.

Mr W. Rowell applied for permission to move his billiard saloon to a sito ill. Kaiti between Mi» Geo. Williams’ shop and Mrs Bryant’s store. Cr. Bright said that there was considerable opposition in . .Kaiti to this request. Ho did not want to go into the qualifications of the applicant, ns he had only known him that day, but ho pointed out that Kaiti was a residential portion, and he did not tlnnlc it was the place for a, billiard saloon. There was no police .surveillance and they had to protect the women and children. All whom lie had spoken to did not wish a billiard room on the ground that it would be undesirable. One knew that it brought a lot of men round who had nothing else to do, and he hoped the Council would take cognisance of the objection and decline tlic' application. He had nothing whatever against Mr Rowell. The Mayor agreed with Cr. Bright and said: that when lie' first heard of the application he had similar views. He thought it would he a mistake to grant the request. It was a corner where there was a lot of traffic, and he was of opinion that the billiard saloons should be kept on the west of Kaiti bridge. Cr. Smith said that he was not altogether in favor of a billiard saloon being in a residential portion of the town, but the place where they proposed to erect it was fast becoming a. I’mtsiness 'area. They intended to build two shops in front of,the saloon and if this were so it was better than having a vacant section. He understood the building was to he in brick. In his experience he had not noticed many loiterers about billiard saloons, those who took an interest being mostly inside. He did not see any harm in the Council granting the application. Cr. Sawyer also saw no objection to the application if the saloon was conducted on proper lines.

Crs. Wade and Hepburn also opposed the application. •Cr. Webb said that the rising generation must he catered for as far as amusement was concerned, and he thought that billiards was a good amusement.

■Cr. Wildish pointed out that Mr Rowell had to leave his present premises owing to the rent being raised by £2.

Cr. Collins also opposed the application.

I The Council decided not to grant the request. ! A number of business people asked the Council not to renew a license of a billiard saloon in another part of the town. The premises, it was alleged, were not suitable aiul the saloon was the cause of annoyance to occupiers of adjacent premises. The Council decided to consider the question when the application for renewal came up next month.

Mr Clias. Phillips applied for. a license for a billiard saloon known as Rowells. The matter was held over till next meeting pending the usual police report.