WOMEN AND DRINK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 4

WOMEN AND DRINK.

VIEWS OP A LICENSING COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, June 7. Tho matter of women getting driuk for . consumption in public bars was raised at tho sitting of the Auckland Licensing Committee tnis morning by tho police reports respecting the Queen's Hotel and' tho Edinburgh Castle Hotel. The' reports were to the effect that provision was made lor tho consumption of liquor on the prenilk's by women. It.was not sug(jested that (he women drank to excess, or that tln> bars wero frequented by women of loose character. Counsel for the licensees stated that tka matter of supplying liquor to women was' a difficult one, and the licensees would liko the committee to give au expression of opinion 011 tho matter, as it was not a breach of tho Licensing Act to supply women, except Maori' women. To rctuso to supply women was to place tils pakeha woman on the same plane as Maori women, said Mr. Grundy, and probably tho suiTragellcs would tako exception to that curtailment of their privileges. If tho committee was going to lay down that no women were to bo supplied with liquoi in public bars in the city it would be a rather far ndvcncc, but the licensees were willing to accept any conditions that might bo made in that direction. Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated that the matter of supplying women ill hotels was 0110 in which public opinion was against tho practice, nnd somo tinio ago tho leaders of tho "Trade" said that the practice would cease. It had practically ceased, with the exception of tho two hotels ill question. The chairman said that the reports were favourable with (ho exception that tho polico said that provision was made for serving women with drink for consumption on the premises. They had to admit that this was not against the law. Tho committee, however, disapproved of it, nnd were pleased to hear that tho two licensees undertook that they would not in the future supply women with drink for consumption on tho premises. Tho committee thought the practice was not only against public opinion, but «>'so against the interests of (ho licensees. They were satisfied with the statement? made on behalf of the licensees, that lliev would not supply facilities for tho practice, nnd the applications for renewals would be granted.