LICENSING LAWS INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24483, 5 February 1945, Page 9

LICENSING LAWS INQUIRY

-• r-4 REPRESENTATIONS BY N.Z. ALLIANCE REPLY BY MINISTER OP JUSTICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, February 4. The general superintendent of the New Zealand Alliance (M r H. W. Milner) recently telegraphed the Minister of Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason)asking if the Government had arranged that the sittings of the Royal to inquire into the Dpminion’s licensing laws would be in public, and would be ope.ii to the press and authorised groups, or was this important matter left to the commission’s decision. Replying, Mr Mason said: “I can only refer you to the terms of the commission.” The terms of the commission' do not expressly say that the proceedings are to be open to the press. The commission is “strictly charged and directed’’ that it shall not at any time publish or otherwise disclose, save to his Excellency the Governor-General, tqe contents of any report or any evidence or information obtained during the inquiry. “except such evidence or infor-. ipation as is received ip the course of a sitting open to the public.” Provision is also made for a report of the proceedings and the findings of the commission to be made from time to time, if this should be considered expedient. It is understood that the commission will confer next Friday, and that it will make its own decision on the question of whether the proceedings shall he open to the press. Mr Milner, in his telegram tp Mr Mason, also said: “Keen disappointment is felt by temperance forces at the appointment of any commissioners connected with the liquor trade, and particularly one so long employed' by them.’’ ' Replying to this, Mr Mason said: “Referring to your complaint as to the personnel, this is widely representative, and care has been taken to have no sectional viewpoint dominating.”