CORPORATE OWNERSHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 July 1945, Page 6

CORPORATE OWNERSHIP

CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRADE VIEWS OF CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD Christchurch, July 26. Corporate ownership as opposed to private ownership or State control of the liquor trade was recommended by Mr T. D. H. Hall, Wellington, on behalf of the General Synod of the Church of England at to day’s sitting of the Royal Commission on Licensing. It was emphasised that the system would not destroy all private scope and initiative. Other suggestions con. cerned licensing law, a straight vote on continuance or prohibition, opposition to tied houses and hours of opening. Mr Hall said there was more than a suggestion that the law at present concerning the sale of liquor was not infrequently broken. There was a demand for quantity instead of quality which did little credit to the national taste. The church was not enamoured of the proposals for State purchase and control, holding that such a system might lead,to new vested interests and monopolies. What was suggested was some system of public control which, without destroying private scope and initiative, might remove unworthy incentives in the trade. “We are opposed to the present system of private ownership, particularly in regard to the brewing trade,” said Mr Hall, “and the sale of intoxicating liquor to the public generally, and do not desire to see ownership taken over by the State. By corporate ownership we mean ownership by a public corporation which would be concerned solely to supply the public according to law and would have no incentive to make unlimited profits for the individual benefit of private persons associated with it.”

A tentative view of the church was that ownership of the trade by a single great corporation would be impracticable and undesirable. Another tentative view was that brewing interests should be separated from the rest of the trade. Concerning licensed houses a possible view was that the Dominion might be divided into districts in each of which a corporation might be established. “There is a widespread feeling that the enforcement of licensing laws needs tightening up,” said Mr Hall. “We also suggest that licensing districts should be based, not on electoral districts, but pn groupings of local governing districts.” A review of existing licenses was also held to be necessary. It was also felt that the question of hours should be reviewed—P.A.