AFTER-HOURS DRINKING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 12

AFTER-HOURS DRINKING

ELIMINATION URGED BY MR LAKE

GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF LIQUOR LAWS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. The Government was studying the licensing laws, with which there seemed to be widespread dissatisfaction, said the Prime Minister arid Minister of Police (Mr Holland), in the House of Representatives today. He was replying to Mr H. R. Lake (Government, Lyttelton), who had commented on after-hours drinking at hotels in the Christchurch area. The matter arose during discussion of the estimates of the Police Department. “How are we going to ston this after-hours drinking?” said Mr Holland. “Attempts to prevent it take up a great deal of r ' , olice time, and people apparently will not accept the law as it is now. I would welcome a Fublic debate on it bv Parliament, and will try to arrange it. “Would it be a wise thing—and I am not saying it should be or should not be—to reconsider the licensing laws and bring them *-.ore into line with what the public have indicated they want?” said Mr Holland. Mr P. N. Holloway (Opposition. Heretaunga): Yes. Mr J. Mathison (Opposition, Avon): The Licensing Commission suggested changes. Mr Holland: Can we have a decision in Parliament? Members: Yes.

Evidence of after-hours drinking, which had been given at a recent murder trial in Christchurch, had appalled many persons who believed in abiding by the law, said Mr Lake. He sought from Mr Holland an assurance that measures would be taken in Christchurch to stamp out illicit liquor trading. “After the trial, many people mentioned to me.their very great concern at the scale on which after-hours trading is indulged in in Christchurch,” Mr Lake said.

Miss M. B. Howard (Opposition, Sydenham): Not only hotels—shops, too.

Urgency of Problem “The sooner somethin" is done about this the better it will be for the people in Christchurch,” said T T r “I know this sort of thing is difficult to detect, but something will have to be done.

“Short, sharp efforts are no good at all,” he said. “Efforts have got to be over a long term, and concentrated. This Government has had substantial success in practically stamping out bookmaking, and I want to see something similar done with after-hours trading.” Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Opposition. Christchurch Central) said he did not think that the illicit trading in liquor was confined to the city of Christchurch.

“This Court case just pointed to the fact that there is ver" wide afterhours drinking throughout the length and breadth of the country.” he said. “The police do all thev can.”

DIRECTION TO POLICE

USE OF FORCE ON WOMEN (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 21. The police directive on the slapping of women was discussed by Mr p. O. Skoglund (Opposition, Palmerston North) in the House of Representatives this morning, when the estimates of the Police Department were being considered. It would not be correct to say that the directive had created dissatisfaction in the force at Palmerston North, said Mr Skoglund. It would be more correct to say it had occasioned comment. He knew personally the two police sergeants recently involved in slapping incidents. When two men like them had occasion to act as they did, it did not seem quite right that the force should be told that on no occasion should officers slap women. Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Opposition, Christchurch Central) said all that was required was a little clarification from the Prime Minister and Minister of Police (Mr Holland). ' r here was no question that the police were sometimes required to use force to restrain women.

A drunken man is a very sad sight, but a drunken woman is very much worse,” said Mr Macfarlane. Mr Holland said he thought it unwise to provoke a discussion. A serious mistake had, however, been made by those who thought the aim was to prevent the police from using force against women. The police were entitled to use force. What the directive set out was that they were not entitled to use a particular treatment for a complaint.

MAN ARRESTED BY MISTAKE

POLICE SEARCH OF WRONG HOUSE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 21 During discussion of the Police Department estimates in the House of Representatives today, Mr M. Moohan (Opposition, Petone) criticised the police for their action in arresting the wrong man, one of his constituents, on a bookmaking charge after receipt by the police of a telephone number. The Prime Minister and Minister of Police (Mr Holland) said a grave mistake had been made. The sorriest man in New Zealand today was the experienced detective-sergeant, an officer of the highest repute, who was responsible.

A search warrant had been obtained and, because of a mistake about a telephone number, a house had been searched which had no connexion whatsoever with bookmaking, said Mr Holland.

“The police have apologised in writing, and as far as I know the owner has expressed satisfaction,” said Mr Holland. He also, as Minister of Police, was very sorry for the serious mistake that had been made.

COMPLAINT ABOUT FINGERPRINTING (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 21. Innocent people should not be fingerprinted, said Mr H. Watt (Opposition, Onehunga) in the House of Representatives this morning, when the estimates for the Police Department were being discussed. In Auckland one night recently, two youths, aged 17, were kept at a police station all night, said Mr Watt. Although still innocent they had been fingerprinted. The boys came from good homes. The very fact that fingerprints were taken made young people suspicious of the police, and it should not be done, said Mr Watt.