'Drive-in’ fight not ended

Press, 27 August 1979, Page 6

'Drive-in’ fight not ended

PA Wellington The Government’s rejection of drive-in cinemas for the near future in New Zealand is not deterring advocates of the entertainment, who say they will keep trying until they get permission.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) says New Zealanders will not see drive-ins in the near future because “the energy crisis would not permit the introduction of a form of entertainment which encouraged the use of motor vehicles.” Mr Highet says the Cabinet decision is based on information from which “the fact which stood out above all the rest was that driveins encourage the recreational use of motor vehicles.” The decision was not final and, keeping an eye on the economic situation, he would ask the Cabinet to review the decision when the time w,as suitable, Mr Highet said.

Mr B. Everard, of Everard Films, Ltd, Auckland, has been campaigning for drive-ins for seven years. He says the decision is a political one and not one based on any knowledgeable research. “It neither surprises me nor is it going to stop me,” he said. Evidence from overseas showed that drive-ins had no effect on the fuel crisis. Mr Everard said it was also ridiculous for a Cabinet to spend valuable time deciding such an issue. Mr H. L. Masters, of Masters Independent Theatres, Christchurch, runs five theatres and plans a joint drive-in venture with Amalgamated Theatres. He said the decision was ex-

pected and so was the economic and fuel-crisis reasoning. Mr Masters said one drive-in in each main centre would not be harmful, and the Government should at least allow one to start as an experiment so the effects could be gauged.