Concern At Clubs’ Liquor Terms

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 3

Concern At Clubs’ Liquor Terms

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, ' July 2. Perturbed about statements by the Minister of Justice, (Mr Hanan) that if golf and bowling clubs were granted Fiuor licences, it would not be Government policy to allow extended hours and Sunday trading, the Golf Council decided today to reiterate representations made to the Minister in May. Golfers and bowlers want a licence allowing liquor to be sold up to 7 p.m., including Sundays. Mr D. O. Whyte, a member of the golf and bowling deputation which saw the Prime Minister and Mr Hanan, told the council: “I am greatly disturbed by Mr Hanan’s state-

ments at Invercargill in which he indicated that the Government is considering a new form of licence for sporting clubs, but it would have to be operated between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Sundays would be excluded. “I don’t know whether he is flying a kite or not but I can’t see why he made that statement without telling our deputation flatly that we cannot have what we asked for. “1 think we should reiterate again our. case for special circumstances.” - Mr Whyte said the whole basis of the Government’s view was utterly wrong. Golfers and bowlers had asked to be able.to have drinks after playing, but the Government was suggesting they should hive drinks instead of playing. It was impossible for many members to finish their games before 6 p.m. Mr Whyte said it had been said that hours would not be altered without a referendum,

but hours had been altered

for restaurant licences and dining permits in hotels, and the hotel licences applied on Sundays. “Sporting clubs are private property, and I don’t see why they should not be treated like hotels and restaurants on Sundays,” he said. “We should write expressing disappointment and expressing the hope that this is not the final decision of the Government.” / Mr N. J. Ellison said that, if Mr Hanan's statement was true, golf clubs would not want the proposed licence. He said it was unfortunate that the Minister should have made such a statement before the matter had been discussed in Parliament. Mr R. F. Mackie said earlier in the week that Mr Hanan indicated golfers and bowlers would get something suitable to them. Then, in Invercargill, he had made the terms restrictive.

Mr Mackie urged the council to' enlist the support of other sporting institutions. He said the chartered clubs of New Zealand, with 100,000 members, would be 100 per cent behind it. “If it is a matter of pooling all our resources to have a fair go, we should do it,” he said. Mr K. W. Stephen said the

crux of the matter was the suggestion that golfers and. bowlers would get a privileged denied to others, but this was not true. A man could take I his wife to a hotel on Sunday and drink to his heart’s content. Mr Whyte said the Government was just tinkering with the issue. “It is farcical when yo uget a case where the GovernorGeneral, after presenting trophies at a golf club, says ‘lt is time I took my wife and my policeman home so you can have some refreshments’.” The council decided to make further representations to Mr Hanan.