LICENSING TRUSTS BILL BREAKS NEW GROUND

Grey River Argus, 30 September 1949, Page 5

LICENSING TRUSTS BILL BREAKS NEW GROUND

P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. The Licensing Trusts Bill which sets up Ashburton and Geraldine Licensing Trusts, is modelled on the Masterton Licensing Trust Act. After restoration has been carried in a no-licence district and the electors have voted in favour of trust control, an Order-in-Council may be issued, constituting a licensing trust district and prescribing the number of members of the trust, which will be elective. If th? number of members elected, to the trust is less than required, the Governor-General may make appointments. Persons associated with the licensing trade, cannot be elected to a trust. A trust is to provide “accommodation and other facilities for the travelling public within the trust district, to establish and maintain hotels and suitable places within the district for the sale or supply of refreshments, to sell and supply intoxicating liquor within the district, and to establish and maintain premises for those purposes.” It may establish and maintain bonded warehouses- and stores. It may also apply for a brewer’s licence, and if one is granted, it may establish and maintain a brewery, either within or outside the trust district. A trust may also acquire and hold shares or stock in a company that is carrying on, the business of a brewer. Authority is given for the trust to acquire land and premises and to take land under the Public Works Act. Premises for the sale of liquor may be established temporarily until suitable permanent premises are available. The number of hotels established by a trust shall not exceed one for every complete 500 electors at the date of the poll. Any 20 or more electors may object and apply to a Magistrate for an order restraining a trust from establishing an hotel. Grounds of objection may be that the proposed hotel would be in the vicinity of a place of public worship, hospital or school. Objectors may ask that a poll be taken on a proposal to establish the hotel on the grounds that the area is predominantly residential and that there is reason to believe that a substantial number of residents object to ah hotel. A Magistrate may grant an application for extended hours and permits for the supply of liquor for so cial gatherings. Trust hotels may be expended within the trust district for the promotion and advancement or encouragement of education, science, literature, art, physical welfare, and other cultural, recreational and philanthropic purposes. The powers of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, are extended to enable it to apply for a brewer’s licence, and if it is granted, to establish and maintain a brewery either within or without the trust district. The Invercargill trust may also acquire and hold shares or stock in a company that is carrying on the business of a brewer, either within or outside its district. The Ashburton and Geraldine Licensing Trusts shall each consist of six members. Distinction Between Trusts and Commission P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 28 The purpose of the Licensing Trusts Bill was to give effect to the vote of people of Ashburton and Geraldine on the recent licensing poll held in those centres, said Hon. H. G. R. Mason in the House to-night when moving a second reading. The Minister ’ said the bill’s main features bore a strong similarity to those contained in the Masterton Licensing Trust Act. Mr R. G. Gerald (Nat. Ashburton) said the bill sought to rectify a wrong done to the people of Ashburton for many years past, and also established general conditions for local trusts in other areas. He asked that time be given to study the bill before it was passed. Mr R. M. Algie (Nat. Remuera), said the legislation last year set up a licensing commission with very wide jurisdiction, extending over the whole Dominion. The present bill gave authority for establishing trusts in specific areas, and it was important. to know what would be the relationship between the powers of the individual Trusts and those of the licensing commission established last year. He said he hoped there would be no conflict between the Trusts and licensing commission. Mr Algie asked if it was intended to exempt the Trusts from the jurisdiction of the licensing commission, and if it would be possible for the Trusts to fix standrds lower or higher than those for other parts of the country. He said the present bill gave authority to establish hotels in temporary premises. Tha\> was bad, as there was a danger srxch places would become nothing more than beer houses. If a Trust could obtain its revenue without obligation to provide accommodation, the . provision of accommodation facilities would be very hard. \

An Opposition member: "Temporary becomes oermaneni.” Mr G. H. Mackley (Nat. Wairarapa) supported a suggestion that the bill be sent to a select committee. He said that in Masterton, although th e Trust control was carried three years ago, there were as yet no open bars, or hotels with accommodation conducted by the Trust. Mr Mason replying w debate, said that, so far as sending the bill to a.select committee was concerned, the House would not be proceeding any further with it this week, and if the member for Ashbuvton found there were important representations to be made from his electorate, an opportunity could be affolded for such' representations to be heard.

Mr Mason said he was not enthusiastic about the idea that the Licensing Control Commission should be brought into tht? areas which had voted for Trust control before the Commission was set up. It would be a little incongruous in the circumstances to say that the commission should have control there. The commission had to set a standard, and was brought into being primarily to watch the public interest in an ’ndustry largely controlled bv commercial interests, whose desire it was—and he did not condemn it — to make profit. Those interests were not necessarily mindful of the public interest. On the other hand, the Trusts were electee py the people,

or appointed in their interests, The bill was read the second time.