LIQUOR INQUIRY

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1945, Page 6

LIQUOR INQUIRY

AUCKLAND SITTINGS END

AUCKLAND, June 18,

The Auckland sittings of the Royal Commission on Licensing were concluded to-day, when the chairman, Mr. Justice Smith, announced that its public sittings would be held in Rotorua next week, commencing on Tuesday afternoon. The commission will’ remain in Auckland for the remainder of this week, attending to various matters, and will leave at the week-end. In announcing the conclusion oi the public sittings, the chairman said he would like to express thanks on behalf of the commission to the Mayor and City Council for making the council chamber and other rooms available for the commission and its staff. “Their courtesy,” said the chairman, “has enabled the commission to continue its policy of sitting in public in a public building. The secretary of the commission has informed me that the City Council does not intend to make any charge for the use of these buildings, and the commission wishes to record its appreciation of that public-spirited action.” The commission has held sittings to hear evidence on 26 days, spread over 6 weeks. It commenced on May 8, but the two following days were holidays, because of the Victory Day celebrations. Full five-day sittings were held in the following three weeks, and on four days on each oi the ensuing two weeks, and the sittings concluded this afternoon. It was anticipated that about a fortnight would suffice to hear evidence in Auckland, but a large number of witnesses came forward, and when others were called in rebuttal of certain evidence about alleged hotel practices, the sittings became protracted. About 90 witnesses in all were heard by the commission in its Auckland sittings. Several firms and organisations interested in the liquor trade submitted voluminous statements and appendices, but most oi the evidence was given orally. Three shorthand female reporters were continuously employed recording questions and answers, and in transcribing an c i cyclostyling the evidence, which was bound in volumes for distribution to members of the commission, and for record purposes. While a complete summary of the evidence is not meantime possible, it is estimated that at least 600,000 words have been recorded and transcribed. This wordage occupies about 2000 foolscap pages, each containing about 300> words. Six counsel have been continuously engaged with the presentation and examination of the evidence.