LIQUOR LICENCES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22134, 2 July 1937, Page 13

LIQUOR LICENCES

INCREASE IN CITIES ADVOCATED

PRESENT PROVISION SAID TO BE INADEQUATE

(rRKSS ASSOCIATION TELEGKAAI.) AUCKLAND, July 1. The view that a revision of the licencing laws was necessary was expressed to-day by the chairman of directors of Dominion Breweries (Mr L. J. Stevens), when speaking at the annual meeting of shareholders He said that in many ways the licencing laws were out of date and were unsuited to the needs of the present population. He would welcome legislative enactments which would give greater security to the trade and enable much-needed improvements to be made in accommodation for the travelling public. This need could be met by granting new licences in, cities to owners of - buildings prepared to furnish the necessary accommodation. A redistribution of licences was not the solution, he said. The removal of existing licences to centres of population would only help to perpetuate the present monopolistic system and turn into profitable investments more or less worthless assets.

If the Government were not prepared to grant new licences, then it should resume the surplus licences at present valuations and grant the licences in new places.