Clubs tell Minister about visiting law

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 4

Clubs tell Minister about visiting law

PA Hamilton Chartered clubs were “very, very concerned” that a long-standing club tradition was now illegal, the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) was told yesterday. The clubs are upset that a ruling last year by the Licensing Control Commission means that members cannot visit another club without being accompanied by a member of that club. The clubs want the law changed. Mr J. Rolfe, president of the Association of Chartered Clubs, told the association’s conference in Hamilton that he would like to see a British system introduced where members could pay an extra fee and be issued with a card which would give them visiting rights to other clubs.

Mr McLay told the conference he was aware that the commission had told the association that the affiliated club visitors rule possibly contravened the Sale of Liquor Act.

The rule, which * most clubs had and which had

previously been sanctioned by the commission, authorised the sale of liquor to a visiting club member. But the act said liquor could only be “supplied” to the visitor, “in which case the club member is presumably obliged to shout his visitor,” said Mr McLay. “I must be honest and say that while I personally have some sympathy for your view, I know that all of you, and Parliament, would want to avoid any suggestion that such a change might lead to the establishment of any de facto taverns,” he said. Any possible change to the law would obviously be considered by members of Parliament in that light. But Mr Rolfe said the clubs’ concern was not so much about the question of “supply” of liquor, as at the wording, which said a visitor had to be accompanied by a club member. The clubs were extremely concerned about the threat to the affiliated visitor’s rule, which had been in existence since the first clubs were formed in 1851.

Ten years ago the “model ruie” relating to visitors was drafted, but last year the commission said it was not legal. Now a member of a club could not visit another ciub unless invited by a member of that club, and must be in his company at all times.

Mr McLay said he saw clubs —■ whether chartered or ancillary licence holders

—-as providing many of the social factors necessary to create a more civilised and balanced attitude towards drinking within the community.

Mr McLay told the conference that Parliament was unlikely to agree to Sunday liquor trading. “Quite frankly, I do not believe that Parliament, on a free and conscience vote, would approve general Sunday trading,” he said. Mr McLay said he would not support Sunday drinking.