No Power To Order Taverns

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 1

No Power To Order Taverns

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 26. Amendments to the Sale of Liquor Act now being prepared will not give the Licensing Control Commission power to determine whether an applicant for a licence shall have a hotel or a tavern.

Under the Sale of Liquor Act, 1962, if an owner asks for a “hotel premises” licence, the commission is obliged to give him one, if the premises are up to standard.

“We think it is i n the public interest that hotels which the commission finds have no Teal function in the accommodation field should be put in the tavern category, assuming that genuine accommodation hotels are not thereby prejudiced,”, said the chairman of the commission (Mr S. T. Barnett) in his report to Parliament. “... The members of the hotel industry, with the odd exception, seem to have resolved to eschew tavern licences." More Time The Government view is that more time is needed before a change can be made. Other aspects of the commission’s report are also in this category. It is felt it is too early to adjust the licences of substandard hotels to tavern status, or to declare that certain hotels are “surplus” in their areas.

The hope is that the position will adjust itself through the action of the new legislation on the licensing trade Transfer Changes

Whatever adjustments are made are likely to be in such matters as the transfer of licences. It is hoped increased flexibility will result and that more owners will accept the obligation 'of having to pay 3 per cent levy on their liquor purchases as a fair exchange, for the burden of maintaining unwanted guest accommodation. It is expected to be some years before the Government will accept either of two suggestions made by the commission:

(1) That the commission should have sole power to determine whether licensed premises should 'be classed as hotel or tavern, and (2) That a licensee voluntarily • relinquishing his liecnce in a small town believed .to have too many hotels will receive a financial grant from the Government.