Bill To Permit Bands And Orchestras In Bars

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 3

Bill To Permit Bands And Orchestras In Bars

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 29. Approval for bands and orchestras to play in bars is given by a Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament today. At present, no part of licensed premises may be used for entertainments for persons other than residents and their guests, without the permission of the Licensing Control Commission.

Music, radio and television programmes and lawful games will be allowed. Courts have held that, under the present law, licensees commit an offence if they allow a small orchestra to play in a lounge bar. The bill extends from 20 miles to 50 miles the maximum distance to which a licence may be removed. It also decrees that the com-

mission must consider the benefits of a better distribution of licences if it is dealing, at the same time, with competing applications, one for removal of a licence and the other for a local review with the object of authorising a new licence. Removal of an existing licence may, therefore, take priority over the creation of an additional licence.

Objections to the removal of a restaurant or wholesale licence may be made on the

same grounds as objections to the original grant of such licences. Applicants for the removal of a hotel or a provisional hotel licence will be able to ask the commission to convert the licence into, respectively, either a tavern or a hotel licence. Advances from the Hotel Investment Account, for hotel alterations, building, improvements or re-building may, in future, also be made to chartered clubs which provide or intend to provide accommodation for members. The Hotel Association is authorised to object to the renewal of a hotelkeeper’s, tourist house keeper’s or tavern keeper’s licence, and to the renewal of a manager's certificate. One clause, which repairs an omission from the act last year, makes it clear that it will be an offence to supply liquor on the premises of unchartered clubs and societies unless the liquor is supplied at the expense of the organisation.