WOMEN DRINKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 129, 2 June 1936, Page 7

WOMEN DRINKERS

COMMITTEE'S VIEWS

LICENSEES' OBLIGATIONS

COUNSEL SURPRISED

A requisition sent to the licenseef of some of the smaller hotels asking them to provide a separate convenience for women if they desired to continue supplying women with liquor gave rise to some comment at the annual meeting of the Wellington Licensing Committee yesterday afternoon.

It was pointed out to the committee that such a request seemed to be in the nature of a reversal of the policy always adopted hitherto of urging publicans to discourage women drinking in hotels.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., said that as an individual he was very dissatisfied with the selling of drink to women. He pointed out, however, that, the law required the provision of conveniences for the public. Women were a section of the public beyond any question, and if licensees wanted to continue supplying women with liquor there should be a proper and separate convenience for them. ASTONISHMENT. "This requisition as to the provision of a women's convenience filled us with astonishment, because we have endeavoured as owners to co-operata with the committee in doing everything possible to discourage women drinking in hotels," said Mr. G. G. Watson, who appeared on behalf of a number of hotel owners. "We certainly do not cater, nor do we encourage catering, for women drinkers in the hotels. Now we are asked to provide an amenity for people we do not cater for and do not want. We think that is an inconsistency." Mr. Mosley said that, when visited, certain of the hotels had a number of women in and in one case there were eighteen women. If a woman went into a hotel for a drink she had as much right to be served as he had, and the committee felt that if women were catered for in this way a proper convenience should be provided for their use. Apart from the possibility of guests' rooms being entered, there were other reasons which made it desirable that there should be a convenience, if possible on the same floor as the bar, separate and apart from that used by the guests. Mr. J. A. Scott, on behalf of the licensee for whom he appeared, submitted that there was no more need now for such a convenience than there was last year, when the renewal of the licence had been .granted without the Imposition of any such condition. QUESTION • JUSTIFIED. Mr. Mosley said he thought'the committee was justified in raising the question, but at the same time the committee did not desire that licensees should be taken by surprise. Attention having been drawn to the matter, those licensees who desired to continue to cater for women would have the chance before the next annual meeting of making some proper provision for them. For the time being he thought that If counsel would give an assurance that the licensees they represented would, as far as possible, not cater for women they would probably persuade the committee to grant the applications. On counsel appearing in support of several applications giving the assurance that their clients would do everything possible to discourage women drinking in their hotels, licences were granted. THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC. Another matter impressed upon sev eral licensees was that they must provide accommodation and meals for the travelling public., Mr. Mosley said that complaints had been received that accommodation had been refused. Mr. Wylie asked who made the complaints. „ . In each of these cases the complainants were stated to be a Mr. and Mrs. Hawton. Mr. Wylie said it seemed that the smaller hotels had been visited systematically. Mr. Mosley: Undoubtedly, but rightly so. Mr. Wylie: Oh, quite. "These small hotels.must be kept up to a certain standard," said Mr. Mosley. "If they are going to retain their licences they have got to be strictly dealt with so that they can maintain that standard!" Licensees for whom Mr. Wylie appeared denied that they had refused a Mr..and Mrs. Hawton accommodation in July of last year. Their licences were renewed, but the licensees were warned of the necessity of providing accommodation and meaU when demanded.