Alliance To See Mr Nash About Report On Liquor

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 16

Alliance To See Mr Nash About Report On Liquor

(New ‘Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 21. The New Zealand Alliance intends organising a representative deputation to the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) and the AttorneyGeneral (Mr Mason) to present a statement on liquor reforms recently recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee. Churches and affiliated groups will be consulted about the statement and the deputation will also approach the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake). In view of the doctor’s opinion being decisive in Court actions, and of the wide differences of opinion among medical men on how much liquor a person may consume and still be fit to drive, the alliance will continue to seek a standard blood, urine, or breath test.

The alliance will seek the cooperation of the National Council of Churches and its youth committee in organising conferences and study groups on alcohol and related problems. Other remits passed at the meeting were:

“That the Dominion executive be asked to investigate to what extent liquor is involved in inferior standards of Maori health as revealed in the Health Department report.” "That the policy of the alliance shall be to promote all persuasive measures possible, such as reduced premiums for abstaining motorists, with the ultimate aim of securing sufficient public opinion to support a law against drinking while driving and immediately before driving.”

It was also decided to congratulate the Minister of Transport (Mr Mathison) on the efforts made to cope with traffic problems and road accidents and to inform him of the alliance’s conviction that the campaign to persuade all citizens to abstain from alcohol before driving be intensified.