Sunday opening of hotels ‘a success’

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 2

Sunday opening of hotels ‘a success’

PA’ Palmerston North Patrons were on their best behaviour when hotels opened in Palmerston North j on Sunday. •; , ; . I Eight hotels were open from noon to 8 p.m. to cater for rugby fans in town for; the Queensland match. But the move came under fire from the president of. the Temperance Alliance, Mr T. Quayle, who said it was ai “very unusual” strep. The local Hotel Association president, Mr G.j Power, said the opening was not a special departure from the licensing Jaws. “It was no different from what isi happening in other parts of the country on a Sunday! where you can get a drink i and a meal.” I

I! The Hotel Association t:simply applied to the local. >'licensing committee for an to the hotels’! ipresent trading licence and' iin due course this was • granted. r> A condition was that ! meals be served, takeaway r sales were barred, and pub‘.lic bars remained closed. •; “It was very successful, a itvery satisfactory exercise,” said Mr Power. There had: • been no stampede and no: ,jthirsty mobs beseiging pubsl ; for a beer as might have! i been feared in some quar-i ; ters. ; ;i “By not opening until ’(noon we avoided any sug-l Lgestion of interfering with churchgoing,” Mr iPower said.