LICENSING LAWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 242, 13 October 1942, Page 2

LICENSING LAWS

Two visitors to Auckland were recently obliged to go to Hamilton for accommodation. Liquor licenses are granted conditional on good accommodation being provided. Jet the majority of hotels in Auckland do not have adequate accommodation available; and, as a matter" of fact, quite a number take no guests whatever. Actually, as the population of the city increased, it shook! have been obligatory on licensees to increase the accommodation available to the the public. However, because it is the most lucrative side of the business, only the selling of liquor has been fostered. The result is that now, although only two hotels have been taken over by the military authorities, we have not got sufficient accommodation available to legitimate visitors. Notice should be immediately served on every licensee that accommodation must be provided. If the New Zealand Alliance would confine their endeavours to getting the licensing laws amended to comply with the ordinary dictates of common sense, they would have the satisfaction of bringing about better conditions for drinkers, with a resultant decrease of drunkenness. Grant licenses only to those who have adequate accommodation to offer to the public, and have legislation passed whereby any liquor license would be automatically cancelled for a particular building for all time if any breach whatsoever of the licensing laws occurs. ALISTER BEVIN.