Confrontation By Inspectors

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 3

Confrontation By Inspectors

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 20. “The result of all these controls is confrontation of the hotels by an array of inspectors,” Mr R. B. Cooke, Q.C., said at the Licensing Control Commission hearing today. He was complaining about the large number of controls on the hotel industry. He said that shortly before the present hearing, Wellington hotels underwent inspections by:— (1) Police and building inspectors in connexion with the annual meeting

of the Wellington Licensing Committee. (2) Inspectors of licensed premises (Justice Department) for the present review by the commission. (3) Police to study the numbers in bars. (4) Fire officers to check escapes and egress. (5‘ Police to study tables and chairs in bars. (6) D.S.I.R. officers regarding noise levels. (7) City Council health inspectors for general purposes and to measure bars. (8) City Council health inspectors to count custom-

ers. (9) City engineers inspectors to check fire escapes and

egress from a different point of view from the fire officers’ check. Mr Cooke said hotels were, of course, now looking forward to inspections by members of the commission themselves. He said the hotel industry was currently the subject of two major inquiries—the commission’s review and the trade practices and prices commission inquiry into liquor prices. “Every session of Parliament throws up new licensing legislation, or proposals for some, with consequent hearings by committees of the house,” he said.

Apart from the Sale of Liquor Act and its regulations, the industry was enmeshed by town planning, Health (eating House) Regulations, the Drainage and Plumbing Regulations and a multiplicity of local by-laws, at times conflicting with the general regulations. Mr Cooke said the industry suggested that rather more co-ordination of effort could be of common benefit.

He suggested, first of all, a comprehensive and self-con-tained code of all safety and hygiene requirements for hotels, which could be prepared by a special committee.