KING COUNTRY LIQUOR QUESTION

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 2

KING COUNTRY LIQUOR QUESTION

TAUMARUNUI, Feb. 25 Social clubs in the Taumarunui district have been advised by the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr A. G. Harper) that no temporary liquor licences would be issued to clubs. The recent Licensing Amendment Act provided for the granting of temporary charters for the legal sale of liquor by reputable and established King Country social clubs until the question of permanent charters were decided. The temporary charters were to operate until the licensing poll, and if the European vote was in favour of licensing, the temporary charters would continue until permanent charters could ’ be arranged.

Iffie Mayor of Taumarunui (Mr D. H. Hall) said: “Parliament endorsed the recommendations of the select committee, and introduced into the act power for the granting of temporary charters to King County clubs. Authority to grant these temporary charters was entrusted to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry). The Minister apparently does not exercise any discretionary power, but has simply refused to operate the law which Parliament intended should be operated and made effective before the poll was taken, and which on that day ceases to be of any effect.”