Restrictions Blamed For Drinking Habits In N.Z.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 8

Restrictions Blamed For Drinking Habits In N.Z.

(New Zealand Pre** Aaaoetetion)

WELLINGTON, April 26. Monsignor A. J. Mcßae told toe Licensing Control Commission yesterday that he was opposed to unrestricted restrictions because he believed toe drinking habits for which Now Zealand was famous—or infamous—were largely the result of restrictions wrongly applied. He told toe commission he was appearing only to explain why he tad not associated hiinseii with a petition from all toe otoer churches in the area against the granting of a licence to a restaurant to be built in conjunction with a new motel in Kiibirnie. Monsignor Mcßae said he was neither for nor against granting of the application, but he very much appreciated the fact that toe other churches had invited him to be associated with them and he owed them the courtesy of making his position clear. He respected their views and believed they were no less concerned about the moral well-being of toe community than he was.

“But I cannot agree that restrictions on the sale and purchase of liquor will necessarily result in raising standards,” he said.

"The restrictions which the Legislature feels necessary to hedge around the sale of liquor are merely toe means to an end, they are not toe end itself. The end is what is necessary to guard against excesses in drinking. “I think it is generally accepted that toe six o'clock ’swill’ is the result of drinking habits which are peculiar to New Zealand.

•There is a danger in thinking that by limiting further and further the aale of liquor we will improve the lituadon. I believe that is what is causing a lot of toe evta.”

He said undue reel fictions also imposed on the police the necessity at getting "offside - very often with the great body of New Zealanders. This tended to lower the esteem in which the officers of the law should be held. Monsignor Mcßae »a-d there seemed nothing like the proposed motel in New Zealand. and he could not conceive of any company spending so much with the idea of depending on the excessive sale of Liquor to make it worth while. There was too much involved for the company to incline towards excesses or infringemenu. The licence is sought by Robert William Woodhead, a shareholder and director of ShorUand Services (Wellington), Ltd., which have the concession to run the restaurant iq a motel being constructed for Mutual Motels, Ltd

It was apposed by all toe Protestant churches in the area, represented by the Rev. F S. Rigg, of the Method rt Church, who presented a petition, and a statement, which said toe objectors deprecated associating drinking with driving in the public mind, by having a licensed restaurant associated with a motel.

The chairman of the commission iMr S. T. Barnett) said decision would be reserved.