Presbytery Defers Liquor Report

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31134, 10 August 1966, Page 16

Presbytery Defers Liquor Report

“The limitation of hours for the public sale of liquor is neither traditional in Western society nor in Christian thinking”, according to a report tabled at the monthly meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery last evening by its public questions committee.

The report says that in New Zealand and Britain limited hours were introduced as a “temporary measure during World War I.” Although intended to be temporary, legislation was made permanent in 1918. A

referendum on drinking hours held in New Zealand in 1949 resulted in a large majority in favour of the then existing 9 a.m, to 6 p.m. hours being retained,” the report says. Presenting the report, the convener, the Rev. E. H. Z. Chapman, said the committee regretted that the report of the Presbyerian General Assembly Commitee on Liquor Problems and Alcoholism reached newspaper headlines in the manner that it did last month. The Christchurch Presbytery would have to take part of the responsibility for that. The Presbytery committee report asks the Presbytery to express its confidence in the studies being undertaken by the assembly committee and to commend the committee for its “summary of views.” The Presbytery deferred receiving and debating the report until its next meeting.