LIQUOR TRADE CONTROL

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1946, Page 3

LIQUOR TRADE CONTROL

INVERCARGILL MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY ADVICE TO MASTERTON (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 2. The Masterton Borough Council is to be informed by the Invercargill City Council that, in the opinion of the City Council, the system of trust control of hotels in Invercargill is quite satisfactory, but the Masterton Council is also to be advised to investigate municipal control. This was decided at a special meeting of the City Council held to-night to consider an inquiry about trust control in Invercargill received from the Masterton Borough Council, which is interested in the subject because of the carrying of restoration in Masterton. Several members of the City Council expressed regret that the council had not decided on municipal control in Invercargill when the opportunity offered. Cr. W. H. Boyes, a representative of the council on the trust, said that the meeting was the outcome of a message in the newspapers stating that the Mayor of Masterton had written to the Mayor of Invercargill asking for certain information about the trust, and adding that no reply had been received by the Mayor of Masterton. The letter from the Mayor of Masterton had been brought to the notice of the council, but the council had decided that it could not deal with it because it was a personal letter to the Mayor. It was an awkward letter at the time, with the licensing poll pending, and it was doubtful if it was fair to ask the Mayor to give a personal opinion which was to be made public, but now that restoration had been carried in Masterton he thought that the Mayor should have sent a reply to the Mayor of Masterton. However, the Mayor did not consider he was bound to reply.

Mistake Made.

“I think that we, as a council, should do something to assist the people of Masterton,” Mr. Boyes added. “We have sent a copy of the Invercargill Licensing Trust Act to the Mayor of Masterton, and now I think we should tell the Masterton Borough Council clearly whether we are satisfied with trust control or not. I think we might also suggest that they investigate the question of municipal control. I think we made a mistake in not going in for municipal control.” The Mayor, Mr. A. Wachner,- said that he was of the opinion that the Mayor of Masterton had committed a breach of etiquette in writing to him for a personal opinion, which was to be made public before the licensing poll. That was why he had not answered the letter, but had passed it on to the council. He thought that the council would have dealt with the letter, but the council had decided otherwise. Now the council had received a letter from the town clerk of Masterton asking for information about the trust. That was a perfectly proper letter, since one local body was justified in seeking information from another local body. , “I think that the Mayor should have written to the Mayor of Masterton stating that he did not wish to give a personal opinion that would be used at a public meeting before the poll,” said Cr. J. Pickard. The Mayor: I consider that the Mayor of Masterton committed a breach of etiquette in writing to me as he did. A motion was carried unanimously approving of the attitude that the Mayor had adopted in regard to the letter from the Mayor of Master ton.

“A Blunder.”

Cr. G. B. Orbell, one of the council’s representatives on the trust, expressed the opinion that they should have had municipal control, because the city would have had lower rates and they would have had money foi roads and other essential works. Therefore he thought they should advise the Masterton Borough Council to investigate the question of mumCl “?think we made a blunder in not making it municipal control, said Cr. R. T. Parsons. Cr Boyes: We had the opportunity. Pickard: But we did not know how to go about it. Tvr QC +prton Cr. Parsons: Now tne Masterton Council is groping in the dark, j as we were, and we should do e\eiy thing wecan to help them.