‘Wine resellers’ business cut’

Press, 4 August 1981, Page 6

‘Wine resellers’ business cut’

Cut-price liquor wars have eroded the viability of some Canterbury wine resellers, the Licensing Control Commission heard in Christchurch yesterday. The commission, comprising Judge Jamieson (chairman), Mr N. B. Wilcox and Mrs P. M. Thompson, are considering whether any new wine reseller licences are necessary or desirable in the Canterbury Licensing District.

The inspector of licensed premises, Mr S. L. Elliot, said that the introduction of "pressure cut-price marketing” and the presence of wholesalers on the domestic market, must have an effect on current and proposed outlets.

Interest for new’ licences has been shown in several areas, including Holmwood, New Brighton, Parklands, Aranui, Halswell, Lincoln, Diamond Harbour, and the central city. Of these areas, Mr Elliot recommended that licences be granted at Diamond Harbour. and at Aranui adjacent to the junction of Pages Road and Breezes Road. He said that a licence “may be desirable" at the small shopping complex at the junction of Holmwood Road and Rossall Street, but made no recommendation. He considered the granting of a licence for Parklands would be premature, but

again made no recommendation. Mr Elliot was not in favour. of licences being authorised in New Brighton, Halswell, Lincoln, or the city centre. Mr R. A. Gibson, who wants to open a wine shop at the junction of Holmwood Road and Rossall Street, claimed the support of about 90 per cent of 900 adults he surveyed within an 800-metre radius of the site. He cited parking and accessibility problems and distance to the "nearest wine outlets, as the main reasons for support for his proposal. The validity of Mr Gibson’s survey was questioned by Mr N. Davidson, repre-

senting the Canterbury Wine Resellers’ Association. The Judge also cautioned against taking for granted support shown in such surveys. Mr Davidson told the commission that wine resellers had sustained much competition as a result of recent liquor marketing in the city, and many were “fighting for their viability.” Mr’ D. H. Cameron gave evidence in support of a licence being granted to Banks Peninsula, where he plans to establish a wine shop to run in conjunction with a craft shop being built at Church Bay. He presented a petition signed by 110 permanent residents of the area who supported his proposal.

Submissions were made in support of a licence for Aranui by Mr G. D. Bates, a rubber worker. If a licence was authorised, he intended applying to open a wine outlet at the Aranui shopping centre at the junction of Pages Road and Breezes Road. Mr Bates also used the results of a survey to support his submission.

Under cross-examination from Mr I. J. D. Hall, for the Liquor Industry Council, Mr Bates agreed that the area had “survived for several years without a wine shop,”; and that one such as that proposed would take business away from nearby outlets. The hearing will con me this morning.