CHANGED ROUTES

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 3

CHANGED ROUTES

ANOMALY IH LICENSING LAWi [Fkom Quit I’.u:liamknta;iy Uei’outer.] WELLINGTON, August J. In supporting the Bill by Mr Mason (Auckland Suburbs) lor ;ui amendment (it the licensing law giving unproved facilities for tin; sale ot New Zcalandmado wine. Mr Williams (.Bay ot Bloatv) referred to an aspect of licensing affecting many country localities. He called iho Government s attention to an anomaly \n the law m reiereiice to the removal of a license or hotel. Tins ‘limited the removal to halt a mi o in a borough, or not exceeding one mile in a county. Everyono knew who tiavelled m New Zealand that, owing to mam roads having been built and n attic diverted to other channels, many hotels were now situated lar Irom the traffic stream, and wore ot no convenience to the travelling public, though no new hotels were being erected on the frequented routes. This alteration in the dominion’s reading system made it imperative that hotel licenses be removed to whore they would boot use to the public, and where the licensees had a reasonable chance of making the hotels pay. There were many such eases in lus district, and one was considered at a recent meeting of the Poverty Bay Licensing Committee —the Motn Hotel. which, when the now road in Waiocka' Valley was opened, would bo eleven or twelve miles oil the mam traffic and tourist route. Thcro was no hotel available for the public travelling from Opotiki to Gisborne till they reached To Karaka, seventeen or eighteen miles from Opotiki. The police inspector had reporto'.l on the position, and ho recommended Ids opinions to the Government’s consideration, while tho chairman of the committee also considered the application for transfer of the license a proper one. He hoped the House would allow Mr Mason’s Bill to proceed so that an amendment to meet such cases as ho had described could be inserted in committee. The Bill was road a second time and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee.