H.A.N.Z. anxious to ban violence

Press, 29 April 1978, Page 2

H.A.N.Z. anxious to ban violence

PA Gisborne Serious concern about the increase in the incidence of violence in hotels and taverns was expressed by Mr A. F. G. McGregor, president of the Hotel Association of New Zealand, at a special meeting of the association’s management committee at Gisborne.

"We fully support the! general policy outlined by Lion Breweries earlier this week," he said. “The association is most concerned about the safety of its mem-1 bets, their staff, and the decent members of the public who are entitled to protec- [ tion, both for themselves' and for the amenities and facilities of the hotels they use.”

Tn 1974, H.A.N.Z. made strong representations on the matter to the Royal Commission on liquor. The Commission recommended that licensees should have the right to refuse anyone entry to a public bar if they considered that that person could cause trouble or violence, said Mr McGregor.

The commission also recommended that any person so refused entry who tried to re-enter the premises within seven days was committing a further offence. “Tn view of recent incidents involving two deaths. H.A.N.Z. now intends to make an immediate approach to the police to discuss the situation and seek their support in having the Government amend the legislation along the lines recommended by the Roayl Commission,” said Mr McGregor. While these incidents had been relatively isolated. H.A.N.Z. was concerned that if there was not immediate action including a stronger line against offenders, there could be an increase in the number of such incidents.