Clubs Disappointed With Liquor Bill

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 9

Clubs Disappointed With Liquor Bill

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. Disappointment that no provision had been made in the Sale of Liquor Bill for clubs t? have the right to sell for •off-premises consumption." has been' expressed by the As-ociation of Chartered Clubs in a statement today. The association complimented the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) on the introduction of ttoe bill. It felt the complete revision was long overdue and that the bill would satisfy the majority of New Z eslanders.

The association regretted, however, that the section of the bril deeding with chartered clubs left such clubs in the uneatisfactory position

they had been in since the establishment of the Licensing Control Commission. The amenity of liquor purchases to club members was a convenience oniy and as such, was specifically defined by the commiseion m all charters. “At present we have the ridiculous position of a chartered club, with no hotel within 30 miles, being forbidden to sell liquor to be taken away,” the association said In one case two dubs had made application for and, later, had received their charters on the same day One club had received the right to sell liquor to take away, the other had been refused the right. The two clubs were situated facing each other in the same street. Although the association was grateful for the liberality with which the commission had granted new club charters it felt the commission’s viewpoint in regard to “off-premises” was too Limited. With more than 140.000 members in New Zealand, t'.e association felt the clubs should enjoy the same facilities as clubs in Britain and Australia. The association said it would make representations before the Statutes Revision Committee.