NEW LICENSING DISTRICT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27602, 8 March 1955, Page 14

NEW LICENSING DISTRICT

COMMITTEE ELECTION TODAY

HOTELS TO CLOSE AT NOON

Christchurch hotels will close at noon today, as a poll is being held to decide the Christchurch Licensing Committee. The committee will replace six which were elected five years ago, as from March 2 the districts of Christchurch Central, Avon, Riccarton, Sydenham, St. Albans, and Fendalton have been amalgamated and one committee of five will administer the area. Eleven men are seeking election today to the committee, which will have a membership of five. Those contesting the election are William George Carpenter, Curll Alexander Gordon Catto, James Neil Clarke, Joseph Irvine Colligan, Claude Aurelian Cooper, Allen Augustine Dingwall. Stanley Edmund Snow Dwight. Alan Frederick Fisher, John Douglas Gray. Donald Chamberlain Haberfield, and Warren Thomas Kaier.

In addition to the elected members a Magistrate is appointed by the Gov-ernor-General to the committee, and becomes chairman ex officio.

Election of the committee is by universal adult suffrage, the election being conducted in exactly the same way as a Parliamentary election. The district covered is the same as that of the six electorates for the General Election last year. On past experience a heavy poll is not expected. In 1950. when elections were necessary in the Christchurch Central, Avon, Fendalton, and Lyttelton districts, fewer than 3000 voted from a roll of about 80,000.

Thirty-two polling places have been appointed for today by the returning officer (Mr C. J. L. McCree) and will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Electors are entitled to have time off work to vote.

Elections are not necessary this year for the Selwyn, Lyttelton, and Hurunui Licensing Committees. In Selwyn and Hurunui there were only five nominations for the five vacancies, and in Lyttelton only four nominations were received.

Any registered elector may stand for membership of a committee, so long as he lives in the district, is not a Government or local body officer, and is not associated with the licensed trade. Costs of the committees and their election are borne by the local bodies in a licensing district. Committees’ Work Since 1948 the main work of committees has been to implement directions of the Licensing Control Commission, which has surveyed the Dominion to determine whether some licences are no longer needed, how they should be reallocated, and to set certain minimum standards for existing licensed premises. Between 1910 and 1948 there was no statutory authority for committees to grant new licences or reallocate them. Committees also inquire into the proper conduct of premises and may make requirements on their own motion. Committees meet quarterly. All licences come, up for renewal at the June meeting. No licence is renewed until the committee hears reports from the police on the general conduct of the house, and from the Health Department on bar and kitchen hygiene and sanitation. Committees also concern themselves with fire safety standards.