‘Neighbourhood pubs’ urged

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33515, 22 April 1974, Page 2

‘Neighbourhood pubs’ urged

(X’.Z. Press Associations i INVERCARGILL. April 21. ! Licensing trusts ithroughout the country have been urged to huild smaller neighbourhood I taverns instead of large 'drinking establishments. The suggestion was put by j the Minister of Health (Mr‘ Tizard) to about 120 delegates at the Licensing Trusts’ , Assocation annual conference at Invercargill. Mr Tizard told delegates ftom 29 of the 30 trusts ini the association that the “real problem” of waiting lists in hospitals was well known. One reason for the waiting lists was the number of road accident victims and the long time such victims required in 1 hospitals. Associated with this was the person who drank and drove his car. When, as a petrol-saving device, the Government intro-

•auced the 50 m.p.h. speed ‘limit, there was little over-all ;decrease in the number of I accidents, but there were fewer serious accidents. ’ 1 This had brought some relief to the position of hosipitals, Mr Tizard said. . EASTER TOLL Public good will and traffic • enforcement had been responsible for the trend, he said. • hut as the good will weak-; iened, enforcement had had to, be relied on.

I This Easter the road toll I had -been no lower than it ' was the previous Easter, Mr ; Tizard said. "Sd it • looks as though we’re back to where we started.” Most people who patronised hotels were reasonable, but there was also an unreasonable element. “I ask you to consider the • form in which future trusts j should .build,” Mr Tizard said, i In the recent past, there had been a tendency to build large taverns and hotels, and there were probably good economic reasons to do this. “HYPOCRISY” But to him, it seemed like | hypocrisy to preach against ;over-indulgence in hotels and • taverns and yet to insist on : large car-parks, alongside • such establishments. I He asked delegates to con- • | sider smaller taverns in a city I I with minimum space for | parking. Development of something I like the “English piib” for the! • ‘family that wanted to relax; I in peaceful surroundings] !would be worth while. Mr Tizard said. At the same time, they] could still provide the “bright i lights” that younger people • wanted. Mr Tizard suggested this was not only a social responsibility. but in the interests, of law and order. Urging trusts to mov°

away from large establishments into “something more like a neighbourhood establishment.” Mr Tizard said that one of the more effective forms of entertainment was to provide drinking facilities, where “everyone is known to; each other.” “The best manager is not the fellow w'ith the best set of fists — it’s the fellow who is best known to his customer.”