LICENSING LAW ENFORCEMENT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27377, 16 June 1954, Page 12

LICENSING LAW ENFORCEMENT

EVIDENCE BY RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT MEN MOVED “BECAUSE OF THEIR VIGILANCE” (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 15. A retired police superintendent, Mr C. W. Lopdell, told the Police Inquiry Commission today that policemen who had vigilantly enforced licensing laws had been transferred because of their vigilance. Some had been transferred through the intervention of members of Parliament One difficulty in licensing enforcement he said, cropped up in remote districts, where the police might to some extent be dependent on the hotelkeeper for help in such matters as reporting the presence of wanted men. The result was an unspoken agreement to the detriment of the licensing Jaws. Mr Lopdell said that from his experience on the West Coast he believed it was possible to enforce the licensing laws there. He added that generally there was no co-ordination on licensing enforcement standards between different police districts. He thought that the department should require returns of visits made by the police to hotels. Mr JLopdell advocated the setting-up of a special police branch, with a representative in each district to deal with licensing Jaw enforcement. Inspector W. G. Bennett, in charge of the Whangarei police district, said he was satisfied there was no extensive after-hours trading in his district. He had confidence in his staff. There were supposed to be 45 men under him. At present there were 41. Council assisting the commission (Mr C. Evans-Scott) said that at 11 stations in the inspector's area there had been no prosecutions for after-hours trading for periods between six and 24 years. Inspector Bennett replied that it was only logical that there must have been some after-hours trading at some time in some of the area. He said that no member of the force in his area lived in a house or hotel owned by licensees. Superintendent J. Soutnward, in charge of the uniformed branch at Auckland, said that it would be a splendid idea to have returns of visits made in a check on after-hours trading. Discussing Mr LopderUs suggestion of a special branch, he said he though the present system functioned well. He did not think New Zealand big enough for specialist officers. Superintendent P. Munro, in charge of the Auckland police district, said he thought a system of returns for hotels visited would be most desirable. He did not think a special licensing branch necessary. The commission finished its Auckland hearing this afternoon, and is returning to Wellington.