Later week-end closing urged

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 3

Later week-end closing urged

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 1. Is 10 p.m. closing late enough on Fridays and Saturdays? This question is raised, and to a great extent answered, in a 500-page document prepared as a thesis in political science by Geoffrey Devon Biggs, of Victoria University.

The research involved was ' sponsored by the Licensing Control Commission and the National Council of the Licensed Trade. The thesis was presented to the Statutes Revision Committee during its examination of the Sale of Liquor Amendment (No. 2) Bill, but was not referred to when the ’ committee brought the bill back to the House. Today, the bill, which was read a second time pro forma on March 17, is twentyseventh on the Parliamentary Order Paper. It contains no recommendations for later closing. Exhaustive inquiries over a wide area by Mr Biggs have indicated the following: The referendum taken on September 23, 1967, drew a vote of 70.1 per cent, of which 64.5 per cent favoured later closing.

5 The term “later closing” was ; not clearly defined, but ; was taken to mean 10 i p.m. Later closing has permitted 1 the development of a new role for the hotel i and tavern. While it has removed the after-work i “swill,” it has concen- ! trated closing-time presI sure on Friday and Saturday evenings. ’ On other days patronage is 1 minimal at closing-time, j Mr Biggs concludes: “The abrupt termination at 10.15 ’ p.m. of what can reasonably be described as the most civilised period of drinking r on licensed premises is due ; for change.” The only hope of this oci curring is for a member of , Parliament to move during r committee discussion on the r bill that licensed hours on ■ Friday and Saturday nights be extended to midnight.