Liquor Hours To Stay

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 14

Liquor Hours To Stay

v (N.Z. Press Association) BALCLUTHA, March 12. The Government had no present intention of changing the hours for the sale of liquor, said the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance '(Mr Muldoon) when opening the annual conference of the New Zealand Licensing Trusts’ Association at Balclutha tonight. Mr Muldoon said selling hours was the major and most controversial question still outstanding following recent changes in the liquor laws. The Government was committed to doing nothing about the hours for the sale of liquor without consulting the people. “But it is recognised

that the present situation causes grave disquiet to many people,” he added. Mr Muldoon said it had been intended to introduce a consolidated licensing trusts bill last session but due to a full legislative programme In a comparatively short session this was not possible. ‘‘lt is hoped that it will be introduced this year and so complete the task of revising the liquor laws,” he said. “This legislation is unlikely to make many changes and none, I hope, that will be controversial.” By the circumstances of their establishment the trusts had been able to provide accommodation of a modern standard for the travelling public. “But the hotel industry, at the insistence of the Licensing Control Commission, has been making rapid advances in this field and in the provision of accommodation, services and facilities of an international standard has out-

stripped the trusts,” said Mr Muldoon. “There has been an awakening in New Zealand to the potential value of the tourist industry and much has been done to provide the services and facilities necessary to attract more tourists to this country. “But much remains to be done. The hotel industry must lead in providing more accommodation. ’ ’ Mr Muldoon urged all trusts to examine the accommodation offered to see if it measured up to the required standards.