LIQUOR AT AIRPORT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 12

LIQUOR AT AIRPORT

Objection By Baptists

Opposition to the granting of a liquor licence to the Christchurch airport was expressed in a resolution adopted unanimously by the annual meeting of the Can-terbury-Westland Baptist Association on Saturday, says a supplied report. The resolution will be sent to the Minister of Justice and the City Council. The resolution said that the meeting learned with concern of the City Council’s application through its airport committee to the Attorney-General for “the right to serve drinks in relaxed and restful conditions to travellers.”

“As a body of Christian citizens we wish to dissociate ourselves from this application,” said the resolution. “We are concerned with the possibility of disturbance and danger in planes by intoxicated air travellers, and the traffic hazard created by car drivers having become partly intoxicated while waiting for plane passengers. “It is our opinion that the prime function of an airport building is to facilitate the passage of air travellers and not to provide a revenue producing centre.” “Strongest Objection” “Mr Guthrie and Mr Jamieson returned from Wellington saying that there appears to be no objection to this proposal, but we should say emphatically that we have the strongest objection,” said Mr R. E. Glpnsor. “This could be the thin edge of the wedge, which will open the way to the granting of licences all over the place.

“The hotels complained about losing money and the cpmmittee put up the price of beer,” said Mr E. R. Clark “They are keeping up the pressure to have extended hours and more licences.

“Pilots are not the only drivers at airports,” said the Rev. R. Hart in reply to the statement that pilots do not drink alcohol before flying. “A large majority of people go to the airport by car. The bar will be open to them. There will be a connexion between an airport licence and traffic accidents on the streets.” Because of the close association of the consumption of liquor with the incidence of crime and traffic accidents, the meeting registered its emphatic opposition to any extension of trading facilities being given to fhe liquor trade for provision for the sale of liquor of any kind in restaurants: extension of trading hours to 10 p.m.; and amending of liquor laws to allow liquor to be served at international airports in New Zealand. “We are of the opinion that any extension to the present selling hours will not be in the best interests of the travelling public or the residents,” said the resolution.