INVERCARGILL LIQUOR

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1944, Page 2

INVERCARGILL LIQUOR

MUNICIPAL CONTROL i Or Private Hotels ? P.A. ’WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. In the House of Representatives, the Invercargill Licensing Committee Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message. . Mr. S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch North), asked for an explanation, and for an assurance that nothing in the Bill denied the people or Invercargill the right to have what they voted for. . Hon H. G. R. Mason (Minister of Justice) indicated that the Bill was very brief. It postponed until not later than September 12 the election! in Invercargill of a Licensing Comnrittee. Such election would normally have been held in June. It provided that the district should be deemed a no-license one meanwhile. There was no idea of failing to carry out the will of the electors, but it was necessary to consider how best to give effect to that will. Such consideration involved the postponement of the Committee’s election. Mr. W. M. Denham (Govt., Invercargill), sought from Mr. Mason an assurance that by September 12, a line of policy would have been adopted by the Government. He said that the old hotels in Invercargill had served the needs of their day, but most of them had been little altered since. He said the majority of the people felt that (thev now wanted something better. There also was a feeling in Invercargill—and it would shortly be communicated to the House—for municipal control. Mr. Denham said he considered that such a form of control would also cause “a regular Donnybrook” at every municipal election. What-> ever happened, the people did not want back the old closed bars where men drank in secret. Invercargill, he said, presented an opportunity for the Government to accept the responsibility of the initiative and an advance in liquor reform. Mr. Fraser gave the assurance asked for that the Government had no intention of frustrating the will of the people, but rather the Governmen intended to give effect to it as thoroughly as possible. The people of the country, as well-as the members of the House, were, he believed, anxious to see a progressive improvement in the dispensation of liquor. Obviously, the Invercargill people were entitled to have their viewsconsidered. . . The Municipal Corporation Act, said -Mr Fraser, did not entitle the City Council to operate licensed premises. If the Government decided that this form of control was practicable and reasonable, then requisite legislation would have to be consiaThe Bill was given a first reading.