LICENSING COMMITTEES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 9

LICENSING COMMITTEES.

■ '. —4 ■ DRINKING AMONG WOMEN. PROHIBITION ORDERS. (by telegraph.—rnEsa association.) ■ ' ChrlslchurcSt, Juno 4. Tho Christchurch Licensing Committco sat at noon to-day. The police reported that all three-story buildings had been provided with iron balconies for firo escape purposes, and others had provided satisfactory means of escape. All applications for renewals and transfers wero granted..

At the annual meetins of tho Christchurch Licensing .Committee to-day, Sub-Inspector Dwyor had some interesting remarks to mako regarding the question 7 econtly'raised* as to tho prevalence or otherwise of drinking among women. A? in other places, lie said, the question might be asked if drinking among womoti in the hotels had attained any magnitude in tho Christchurch licensing district. For some time past this matter had received close attention, and 'from his constant observation; and' from reports furnished from time to timo by'the sergeants doing duty in tho city, lie was of opinion tho habit of drinking was not on tho increase, nor was it carried on to any great extent. On Saturdays and market days a good many farmers and people from tho country use tho hotels with stabling accommodation attached, and after their business and shopping were over theirwives accompanied them to theso hotels, and with them partook of refreshments. In tho suburbs ana outskirts of the city 1 a few 'women, apparently tho wives of working men, wont to the hotels with jugs for "homo consumption." These, with a few of tlio fallen class, comprised tho drinking women in tho city. Thero was another matter that he desired to bring under the notice of tho. Committee, and that was tho number of prohibited persons who from timo to timo came before tho Court for breaking tho, conditions of their order. He know tho oaso with which these persons could procure liquor without going to tho hotels themselves for it-; but still ho thought that a few of tho publicans did not talco the necessary steps to find out- who tho prohibited person was when they wore served with tho usual notico. Ho did not say that they would bo successful in all cases, but in many instances ho thought they would be if they took tho trouble to make the propor inquiries. New Plymouth, Juno 4. The annual licensing meeting was held today. The police reports being favourable, all licenses wore renewed.