Akaroa Council Debates "After Hours” Complaint

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 21

Akaroa Council Debates " After Hours” Complaint

When the Rev M J. Lewitt’s complaint to the Akaroa County Town Committee concerning after hours drinking in the town, was discussed yesterday by the committee's parent body the Akaroa County Council, it was decided to refer the complaint to the police. Cr. H. J. Mortlock. the committee chairman. told the council that Mr Lewitt objected to after hours drinking in the town and recommended the council earnestly to consider the reported after hours trading and to take whatever action it thought necessary Cr V J Armstrong said that the subject had received a lot of publicity. He did not think there was anything the council could do “I was in Masterton on Tuesday night and I got this." said Cr F G. Harris, exhibiting a double column report of the town commi'tee’s discussion. “I don’t know whether it's good or bad publicity, but it has gone all round the country and been made a feature”

Cr. Armst-ong: The Akaroa hotels are in the news, even when they are not burned down

The chairman Mr G. P A de Latour) said that he did not know whether the council could achieve much by giving the complaint an airing. The council had never b A *-re had any complaints about after hours drinking

He noticed that -the Superintendent of Police at Christchurch (Mr Macdonald Brown) in a statement published in a Christchurch newspaper had said that there had been only one after hours complaint about Akaroa in ni'e months and it had been dealt with. “Not Necessarily Illegal” “Drinking in hotels after hours is not necessarily illegal drinking." said Mr de Latour “It appears from many reports of court cases that there are many reasons why persons can legally be in an hotel after 6 p.m “I don’t want this council to set itself up in judgment on this case. That is for a court of law Unless someone is prepared to lay a charge and follow it up. I fail to see that we can do much about it “We have been asked to do something and we can do one of two things. The county derives its authority from an Act of Parliament, but we don't administer the licensing laws We could refer this to our member of Parliament u. one of two ways: we can suggest that he push for 10 p.m. closing, or we can tell him that it is the wish of the town committee that the Akaroa County Council asked him to take this question up with the minister. “That I agree is passing the

buck which the town committee already has done, but we’ll pass it one further.” said Mr de ’ atour Cr. I. Menzies said that the council could not unanimously agree to ask for 10 pm. closing. Reform was necessary in the whole system of drinking but he doubted whether 10 p.m closing was the answer. He also doubted whether the council was within its province to ask for an investigation. “I should think we have gone far enough.” said Cr Menzies “This had a lot of undesirable publicity thai can’t do Akaroa any good whatever, and I think we should let the matter drop ' If vandalism were brough’ to the notice of the council the council referred it to the oolice. said Cr A. S Gray He thought the council should either approach its member or the police “But subversive drinking is common throughout the country, not just in Akaroa.” said Cr Menzies Cr. Harris said he though: the question was outside the council’s jurisdiction. It was a police matter and the council would not be in order making a recommendation. It was not the council’s business “Akaroa’s about dead now and this could finish it,” said Cr C. D Kay. “Oh no,” replied Cr Mortlock "Never say die” On the motion of Cr Kay. seconded by Cr. Armstrong the council agreed to send the complaint to the police