LICENSING COMMISSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1945, Page 2

LICENSING COMMISSION

BREWERIES AND HOTELS.’

WELLINGTON, March'22. The Royal Commission on Licensing was occupied practically all in listening to the examination of the Under-Secretary of Justice, Mr. B. L. , Dallard, on the statement he had previously submitted. The examination of the Commissioner of Police. MrJames Cummings, had just started when the'proceedings were adjourned until to-morrow. • . Mr. H. F. O’Leary, K.C., Counsel, for the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association,' asked . Mr. Dallard if he thought that the local option should be abolished where, such an area formed part ’of a bigger area which was licensed. . ■’ The witness replied that this was a matter of Government policy, which might be influenced by recommendations by the' commission, personally, he thought the local option factor undesirable. There should be one law for the whole of New Zealand. . To Mr. J. D. Willis (counsel assisting the commission), the witness, said he held the view that it should be illegal for brewers to own licences. Horn F. G. Young (a member of the commission): Do you agree that the system of brewers and wine and spirit merchants financing hotel transactions makes it possible for men of- small capital to enter the hotel business? Mr. Dallard: Up to a point, but because that is an easy way, it does not follow that it is the most desirable. The best hotel in Wellington is financed by a company other than a The chairman (Mr. Justice Smith). Do you consider. that each brewery with a tied house, or each brewery with tied houses, constitutes a monopoly? Mr. Dallard: The beginnings of one. The chairman: With more than one there is competition? . Mr. Dallard: The experience is that such combinations either fight or come to an arrangement. The chairman: Do you suggest that to-day there is some uriderstanding between competitors? Mr. Dallard: Not that I am aware of. The chairman said that either there was a monopoly in the sale of beer, or there was not. The witness replied that the system of tied houses had a tendency to raise the price of hotel properties and rents. He had heard licensees say that high rents caused after hours trading. The chairman said that in the absence of specific cases it was a question whether the general statements of licensing committee chairmen attached to the statement of the witness, were sufficient to justify the inference that competing breweries had so raised rents that licensees were breaking the law. The Commissioner of Police (Mr. James Cummings), in reply to Mr. F. C. Snratt (counsel for the New Zealand” Alliance), said his main concern was for the enforcement of the law as it now stood, and for the assistance of any recommendations the commission might see fit to make for improvements in the existing law. The normal establishment of the Police Force was 1600, but it was 144 men short, and there was 25 per cent, more work, due to war conditions. Mr. Cummings will continue his evidence to-morrow. PROCEDURE AND EVIDENCE WELLINGTON, March 23. The Licensing Commission held a short sitting this morning, and adjourned until this afternoon. It is expected it will adjourn to-day until after Easter. In a discussion on future procedure the Chairman asked if counsel would be prepared to submit observations regarding the evidence when the Commission resumed. Mr. Willis said he proposed to produce other Government officials for ’ cross-examination and would then call independent witnesses such as the R.S.A. Then the Alliance would 1 present its case, and the Trade would 1 follow, but he was not closing the : Crown’s case. He reserved the right to bring additional evidence if required. 1 Mr. O’Leary said the licensed trade | had been placed in the position of defendants and did not feel disposed to place a case before the Commission ; until the whole of evidence including ' that in other centres had- been • brought. It was' extremely doubtful ; if they were ready to proceed in , Auckland. The Chairman said the Commission • would consider the matter further.