DESIRE FOR HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21729, 19 February 1934, Page 11

DESIRE FOR HOTEL

POSITION AT MATAMATA AMENDMENT OF LAW WANTED [bi* telegraph—OWN* correspondent] MATAMATA, Saturday A deputation from the Matamata Chamber of Commerce asked the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day whether the Government would set machinery in motion for the redistribution of hotel licences. The speakers said that Matamata was in a licensed area, but the district had no hotel and under present conditions had no hope of getting one. The town, which, had a population of 1200, was the centre of a very fertile district, but considerable business was lost to other districts through lack of hotel accommodation. There was more drinking under the present system and frequent raids on sly grog shops. Public opinion had changed considerably of late years and even prominent supporters of no-license now admitted that a hotel would lead to better control of drinking. The deputation suggested that a hotel might be municipally controlled, the profits'to be" devoted to the relief of the heavily-rated community. The Prime Minister said that no doubt the positioii was absurd. He did not think there would be time next session for licensing legislation. It was a Parliamentary matter and not one of party. However, the request would be given. consideration if the licensing legislation was overhauled.