HOURS FOR SALE OF LIQUOR

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 8

HOURS FOR SALE OF LIQUOR

OPPOSITION TO ANY CHANGE

VIEWS OF BAPTISTS’ AUXILIARY Any change in the present time limit on public ’ bars would be “a serious national retrogression,” in the opinion of the annual meeting of the Canterbury and Westland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, held «t Ashburton on Saturday. The meeting passed a resolution expressing concern at the “ever increasing number of attempts to influence public "opinion towards the overthrow of the present law requiring the closing of public bars at 6 p.m.” The meeting was “persuaded that no true I parallel can be drawn between conditions in Great Britain and the Continent and those in New Zealand. From a domestic and moral point of view, any change from the present time limit, so strongly reaffirmed by the last referendum, would be a'serious national retrogression.” A second resolution dealing with the liquor question expressed concern at the growing number of convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol, in spite of the heavier penalties attached.

“The meeting would respectfully remind the Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) of the appalling loss and serious maiming of life through ihis cause, and while commending his ’lepartment for its publicity campaign in this connexion, would urge that endeavour be intensified by legislation and publicity and every other possible way to reduce such criminal negligence to a minimum,” said the resolution.

Life was much more important than personal liberties in this issue, and these must, if necessary, be sacrificed for the safeguarding of life.