Police Re-examining Law On Closing Liners’ Bars

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 12

Police Re-examining Law On Closing Liners’ Bars

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) AUCKLAND, November 16. Bars in the Orient liner Oronsay, which is in port at Auckland until midnight, were closed by the agents when the ship berthed early this morning. Similar action was taken in the Orcades when she visited Auckland recently.

Protests by the Union Steam Ship Company, agents for the Orient Line, have resulted in a re-examination by the Police Department of the law on ships’ bars. The department is, to issue a statement shortly.

"The bars in the Orcades were closed last week after a hint from the police,’’ said Mr W. A. Smith, manager of the Auckland branch of the Union Company, today. Mr Smith said that neither the Orcades nor the Oronsay had a New Zealand packet licence, and there should be no difference in jurisdiction over these vessels and over the Mariposa. The Mariposa’s bars remained open while the ship was at Wellington.

The only liquor available in the Oronsay today was two bottles of beer for each of the crew of 600. This is the daily issue provided for in the ship’s articles.

The Union Steam Ship Company says that if the action of the Police Department at Auckland in closing the bars on the Orcades had legal backing, then the law had been broken for the previous 50 years in all overseas ships visiting New Zealand with through passengers. The company was asked in Wellington to comment on a statement by the Assistant Controller-General of Police (Mr P. J. Nalder). U.S. Liners Exempt Mr Nalder said that the Police Department would not be taking any action in the case of American passenger vessels, similar to that instituted at Auckland recently in the case of the Orcades.

The company’s statement says: "The question is whether the Police Department has jurisdiction and, if so, whether it can exempt a vessel merely because she is foreign. "As to the understanding that the action of the Auckland police was because wharf labourers had been found drinking on board the ship, inquiries at Auckland do not substantiate this. The wharf police could not quote any instance, when approached. "The Orsova is at Auckland today with 1200 through passengers. The company very seriously questions whether the Police Department has jurisdiction to treat that vessel any different from the Mariposa. New Zealand will certainly be the laughing stock of the thousands of tourists which the Orient Line has on board its vessels passing through New Zealand.’’

"In my opinion, there is no justification for discrimination, and it is unfortunate that the law has been applied in one way in Auckland, and in another way in Wellington. We certainly must have a uniform practice throughout New Zealand, applicable to all ships, no matter what flag they sail under,’’ said the Controller-

General of Police (Mr S. T. Barnett) in a statement today.

Mr Barnett said the law relating to ships’ bars would be re-examined in the next day or two, and a statement would be made later. Orcades Incident

“The facts are that the officer in charge of the wharf police in Auckland saw the local agent for the Orient Line some time before the arrival of the Orcades, and directed that the bars be closed while she lay in Auckland,” said Mr Barnett.

"He did this because, in his opinion, when similar ‘through’ vessels visited the port, there had been excessive drinking on such ships by visitors. “He had two courses open to him: to warn the agents for the line that, unless they exercised better control, the bars would be closed; or to do what in fact he did. which was to issue a directive on the matter.

"It is true that it has always been the custom to allow the bars in vessels passing through New Zealand to remain open during their stay in port.” said Mr Barnett. "That is understandable, because the ship is the home of passengers while they are here. Also, that has always been considered to be the law.

"Now it seems possible that a different construction or interpretation can be put upon the law, and in the course of the next day or two we will re-examine the law and make a statement on the matter,” Mr Barnett concluded.