Few Morning, Many Afternoon Drinkers

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 8

Few Morning, Many Afternoon Drinkers

ALTHOUGH it may have been a case of staying outside and getting wet or going in and getting soaked, few Whangarei drinkers took advantage of the dispensation when hotel bars opened at 9 n.m. this morning for the first Saturday since the extended hours came into operation.

Attendance at sporting fixtures suffered this afternoon when at 2 pan., the hour of expulsion for some years past, IoU customers continued to wield the “long handle”—when available—at the three Whangarei hotels.

Suffering from the effects of the night-before, a somewhat bedraggled imbiber crept past the barman sweeping an entrance. He obviously thought lie was "getting a few in before the pubs opened” for at 9.40 a.m. he asked another barman: “When is this 9 o'clock opening going to commence?" “You should have been here at 9 o'clock sharp.” replied the barman. “We were offering £5 for the first customer.”

Where there had previously been silence on a Saturday afternoon, there was a hum of conversation. Most of the drinkers seemed more prepared to discuss sports than to witness them. “Some on. Jim, let’s go to the football." said one man to his companion. "Don't be a spoil-sport." was the reply. "We'll have one more for the road.”

Unless their matches did not start until later in the afternoon, there would probably be several active sportsmen late for their respective games, as the floors of various bars were the resting place for an assortment of gear. Football boots, hockey sticks and jerseys were among the conglomeration. bitl there was a notable absence of basketballs. A martyr for the cause of total indulgence. Omar Khayyam, once said: "I often wonder what the vintners buy, one,half so precious as,the goods they sell.”

Since then many people have been trying to find out. The extra opportunity afforded by the extended hours will no doubt be appreciated by those investigating the question.