LIQUOR REFORMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1945, Page 7

LIQUOR REFORMS

VIEWS OF CHURCH PA AUCKLAND, May 24. The attitude of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to the problem of liquor control was stated by James Douglas Smith, a minister of that Church and convener of the temperance committee of the Church, before the Royal Commission on Licensing today. Witness said the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church realised that, while holding to the abolition of the liquor traffic as a long-term policy, national prohibition was not practical politics at present. With a view to reform, the assembly ought to devise means to bring about the elimination of private profit and incentive to profit in the liquor business. It also sougnt the return to local option for the whole Dominion and considered that where there were more than two issues on the ballot paper it be designed to provide for a preferential vote. The assembly advocated an active temperance education programme and urged that better law enforcement be constantly pressed for from the Government. In general, the case presented by the New Zealand Alliance was supported by the Presbyterian Church, continued witness. The Church, however, differed on the question of the majority by which the poll should be carried and did not consider a bare majority gave sufficient stability. The Church also thought that the 60 per cent, majority which had operated in local licence polls was too great and favoured a 55 per cent, majority as affording a reasonable margin of 10 per cent, between the two parties. If this were done, the present no-licence electorates would need to fall in line. If, however, the local option poll was not restored, the 60 per cent, margin | should in fairness remain in the poll for the restoration of licences. The Church agreed with the proposal to set up a central licensing authority. "We do not only object to the Minister of Customs being empowered to issue a licence to distil spirit beverages but strongly object to any distillation industry for such purposes being set up in New Zealand," said witness. He pointed out that earliest temperance pledges were confined to abstinence from the spirituous liquor, and in France temperance societies were practically confined to an agitation against spirits drinking. "This reflects the generally acknowledged danger," witness added. CLOSING TIME. Witness advocated further restrictions on liquor advertising. He said the Church was definitely opposed to ari ( extension of hours beyond 6 p.m. "We also wish to emphasise the necessity for altering the present provision that bona fide lodgers and their guests may be served with liquor outside the hours of sale to the: general public," he added. "We are prepared to concede that liquor may be sold with meals up to 8 p.m., provided there is absolute closing thereafter." Regarding the proposed improvements in drinking customs, witness said that the Presbyterian Church approved as an experiment the provision of seats and tables in bars and the supply of food with drink, though it was not happy at the thought of childly .• minors being introduced to drinking customs, as at the Brown Owl at Invercargill, and very strict supervision would be necessary. \ . We would regard it as an exceedingly retrograde step should additional licences be issued to tea and reiresnment rooms," witness stated. btrict control by a central licensing authority over all transactions involving the transfer of licences was advocated. "A very gross evil has arisen tm-ough excessive valuations being placed on hotel premises," said witness. "We have sought to have the King country preserved as a proclaimed area m which there should be no licensed hotels/ witness stated. "We have protested against the large amount of lawbreaking which has gone °" in n the supply of liquor to Maoris, we also strongly object to the action 01 "-he Railways Department' in using the C.O.D. system for the carriage of liquor into the King Country. We sympathise with those of the Maoris who desire, to have an advance in their status recognised by the removal of limitations, but we feel that in their own interests it is advisable that the protection given should be continued lor a further period."