KING COUNTRY CLUBS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 6

KING COUNTRY CLUBS

NO INTERIM LIQUOR LICENCES DEPARTMENTAL DECISION CAUSES DISMAY (P.A.) TAUMARUNUI. Feb. 24. Social clubs in the Taumarunui district have been advised by the Undersecretary of Internal Affairs (Mr A. G. Harper) that no temporary liquor licences would be issued to clubs. The recent Licensing Amendment Act provided for the granting of temporary charters to clubs in the King Country. Provision was to be made for the legal sale of liquor by reputable and established King Country social clubs until the question of permanent charters was decided. The temporary charters were to operate Until the licensing poll, and if the European vote was in favour ot licensing, the temporary charter* would continue until permanent charters could be arranged.

It was expected that up to 18 months might elapse before the proposed Licensing Commissioner could deal with applications by King Country clubs for permanent charters. The latest decision by the Government has caused astonishment in the King Country. Commenting on the new situation, the Mayor of Taumarunui (Mr D. H. Hall) said: “Parliament endorsed the recohnmendations of the select committee, and introduced into the act power for the granting of temporary charters to King Country clubs. “Authority ,to grant these temporary charters was entrusted to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry). The Minister apparently does not exercise any discretionary power, but has simply refused to operate the law which Parliament intended should be operated and made effective before the poll was taken, and which on that day ceases to be of any effect. “The Minister’s decision means that either he is of the opinion that there is not one social club in the King Country fitted to be entrusted with a temporary charter, or he considers himself entitled to over-ride 'the will of Parliament on this important matter.” The chairman of the Taumarunui Chamber of Commerce (Mr D. C. Seath) said: “The effect of the decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs not to grant temporary charters will deprive clubs of the provisional security which they were, led to expect. After March 9, clubs will have lost their security, and will be required, in the event .of a favourable poll, to make their application for a charter to the Licensing Control Commission, which, even when it is established, may take a long time to consider the applications and reach a decision.”