LIQUOR REFORM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 309, 9 October 1943, Page 5

LIQUOR REFORM

ANGLICAN SYNOD’S DISCUSSION. STATE CONTROL REJECTED. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The experience of a Christchurch clergyman who last month visited nine city hotels at night “thinly disguised as a layman” were given to the Diocesan Sydnod last evening. The speaker was the Rev. R. J. Witty of Avonside. The faet that some of his parishioners had directed his attention to drinking by young people, said Mr Witty, ’had prompted him to pay the visits, and in every case, after hours, he had found young people between the ages 'of 16 and 20 drinking there, he said, Mr Witty added that he was seriously perturbed at the situation. The discussion arose from a motion by the Rev. F. N. Taylor: (1) it welcomed the statement by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) that the Government would appoint a Royal Commission as soon as practicable to investigate the operation of the licensing laws; (2) it urged the Government to proceed without delay to carry out that intention; and (3) it suggested that the commission’s ‘•terms of reference should include an investigation and report on the subject of State control of the manufacturing and sale of alcoholic liquors.

There was little need to elaborate the fact that there was a great desire on the part of the public for drastic liquor reform, said Mr Taylor, who drew attention to the increasing number of votes cast for State control. As he could not see any possibility of prohibition being introduced, said the Rev. J. S. Cooper, he was “preparing to back the next horse —State control.”

If the law were -properly enforced, said Mr G. Stening, there would be an entirely different set of circumstances. “But the law is flouted,” he declared. Archdeacon A. J. Petrie characterised the motion as one of the most subtle that had ever come before Synod and he referred particularly to the third clause. '

Canon H. O. Hanby, said-: “I am not a Prohibitionist. I like my drop of ale, and a little something else when it can be obtained.” (Laughter). If the shackles of State control were once on the country/ he added, he doubted w r hether they would ever be got rid of. To date he had not been convinced by any arguments for it, but he did agree that it was time the administration of the licensing laws was tightened up. The Rev. T. M. Curnow thought it rather futile to ask the Government to give consideration to an issue when “it had been turned down with a bang by the electors.” However, he did want to see the liquor laws overhauled.

Mr H. A. Wade: First of all let the police do their duty. Then we would see a difference. Mr E. H. S. Hamilton said he did not think the solution was State control, and therefore, he would vote against the third clause. Rather did it l(e in. a complete investigation, in his opinion, of the licensing laws. After a long debate the first two clauses were adopted, and the third clause was defeated. A copy of the resolution was directed to he sent to the Prime Minister.