AFTER HOUR “SMOKES"

Evening Star, Issue 19004, 28 July 1925, Page 6

AFTER HOUR “SMOKES"

ALLEGED FLOUTING OF LAW TOBACCONISTS TAKE ACTION LICENSE FEE SUGGESTED. Many of those who patronise My Lady Nicotine are not perturbed when they find that the tobacconists’ shops are closed, and that they have run out of a supply of their favorite brands. They know of a number of places where they can be, supplied—it is not necessary to point to their location, because, it is claimed, they are so well known, and for the additional reason that, if they do so trade, they are putting themselves outside the law. In Dunedin the tobacconists' shops are required to close on three nights of tho week at G. 15, on one day at 1 p.m., on another day at 9.15 p.m., and on tho late night at 11 o’clock; but outside these hours, and on Sunday, a “ roaring ” trade, which over all must represent a substantial sum per week, is reported to be carried on. In an endeavor to combat the illicit trading which is going on the tobacconists throughout New Zealand are taking united action. They icel that, though the selling during the hours when the tobacconists arc forced by the provision of the Shops and Offices Act to close their shops is very rife, tlie penalty which is inflicted when a defaulter is occasionally prosecuted is never severe enough to act as a deterrent.

Last year a deputation representative of the tobacconists of New Zealand waited upon the Prime Minister and tho Minister of Labor, tho proposals put forward being that it should bo'necessary for all sellers of the commodities to be licensed at a nominal fee of £1 per annum, the license to be issued by a stipendiary magistrate lor tlie sale of tobaccos and cigarettes between certain hours, and that certain penalties (including cancellation of the license after one conviction he inflicted for breaches, such penalties in be severe enough, to help materially to put down illicit trading. The lato Mr Massey, after hearing the deputation, admitted that legitimate tohacconisls certainly had a grievance, and promised relief. The Dunedin tobacconists, in common with those of other centres, arc now looking to the. Minister of Labor to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the deputation which was received so sympathetically last year.

The matter was represented to a ‘ Star ’ reporter this morning by a leading tobacconist, who is president of the local employers’ union, the secretary of tlie organisation also being in attendance.

“ You do not object to the other people selling tobacco and cigarettesV ” queried the reporter. “ No. But we ask for fair competition,” was the reply. “ The license fee (£1) is light enough not to bo a burden on any small shopkeeper.” The tobacconists, it was further pointed out, were not desirous of a monopoly; they did expect some legislation winch would at least bring down to a minimum the amount of aftcrhuur trading which was now going on.

The proposal, it was stressed, was i«,r no other purpose than to facilitate the enforcement of the existing law relating to the sale of tobacco and cigarettes. There was no desire whatever to in any way restrict or interfere with the present rights of vendors of the commodities, whether they be tobacconists, fruiterers, confectioners, grocers, or hotelkeepers. The whole position, it was alleged, was that the law was being openly flouted, w and tho suppression ot illegal sales was becoming absolutely necessary,. in order to protect the conscientious vendor who observed the law. From the point of view of good citizenship, it was also highly desirable, as some of the illicit trade was done with young people, whose sense of responsibility w:*; undermined by tho fact that they knew they could break tho law with impunity.