LICENSING LAWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1945, Page 8

LICENSING LAWS

REPORTS OF BREACHES REQUEST FOR FACILITIES Opportunities should be given for the public to make complaints to licensing committees about the conduct of hotels, said the Rev. H. W. Milner, general superintendent of the New Zealand Alliance, in evidence before the Royal Commission on Licensing today. Mr. Milner said that representations had been made to the police concerning Sunday drinking at a Lower Hutt hotel. The Hutt Temperance League had stationed observers outside the building on several occasions, and they had seen men leave carrying sacks, and had taken the numbers of their motor-cars. This information had been passed on to the police, with the result that subsequently , the police, acting for themselves, had observed similar conduct and had obtained convictions. There had been insufficient publicity in the Wellington newspapers in reference to liquor breaches cases, he, continued. "We feel that this sort of thing should not be our job." continued Mr. Milner. "But it seems as if some section of the public does not check up nothing is done." Publicity was part of the punishment of offenders, and was essential. "We want direct access to members of the licensing committees,, so that we can make contact and proffer com-

plaints. There is a feeling in the Hutt district that there is something wrong, but there is at present no form of redress. We have even been told that the discussions at committee meetings are regarded as confidential. We contend that -as these bodies are elected by the community, they should report back to the public. There is too much secrecy about their meetings, and far too little publicity in the Press." "TRAFFIC IN LICENCES." There was also "a-great evil" in the traffic in hotel licences, Mr. Milner continued, and far too many transfers. In fact, the latter were far greater than in any other form of licences business, and "gambling in licences" should be prevented: The witness referred to the reported sale of a hotel at Opunake in 1941, where the purchaser had been assured that there was no after hour trading.' It was soon discovered, however, that half the proceeds of £165 weekly came from that source. As a result of alleged misrepresentation, the purchaser had obtained £1000 damages. Traffic in licences, and exorbitant valuations for goodwill, had resulted in licensees having to carry on with heavy overhead expenses. "One licensee has complained .to me during the sittings' of this Commission that he was being frozen out of the business," said the witness. , s "He also alleged that the brewers were exercising favouritism." '■ .< The chairman (Mr. Justice Smith): The licensed victuallers are represented here. • I presume that this man was a member of the Licensed Victuallers' Association. Is it your intention to bring forward any evidence from them? . . , "I am afraid not," Mr. Milner replied. "Some of: them would like to come and give evidence, but we have been unable to obtain any sworn statements or any undertaking that they will give evidence. ... I have said to this man: 'It is no use blinking the fact as to what your future relations with the trade might be, but as a decent man you should also weigh up what'is your duty to your fellow-citizens."' (Proceeding.)