Ritz campaigned with Henry Labouchere, Lord Randolph Churchill and others to "alter licensing laws whereby restaurants could not open on Sundays and had to close at 11pm on other nights".[10] In March 1898, Ritz was sacked from The Savoy for fraud. Ritz was implicated in the disappearance of more than £3,400 of wine and spirits, as well as in receiving kickbacks from suppliers.[11][12] It was the end of a long struggle with the housekeeper at The Savoy who made life particularly difficult for Ritz, frequently criticising him and getting into quarrels. After Ritz was sacked, Escoffier, Echenard, Elles and numerous other proteges of Ritz's quit. His departure also resulted in a loss of clientele from The Savoy; Lady de Grey for instance cancelled her party at The Savoy upon learning of his sacking, stating "Where Ritz goes, I go".[13] Ritz subsequently established a Carlton Hotel branch in Newmarket, built in 1897–99 under the designs of C.J. Phipps. The hotel was later replaced by the New Zealand House in 1957.[14]