BETTING AND BEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 18

BETTING AND BEER

FEEEDOM IN ENGLAND NEW ZEALAND CRITICISED HAVING TO DRINK FAST IMPRESSIONS OF VISITOR [BY TELEGRArH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS, Friday Tho licensing laws, gambling laws and an apparent shortage of good, solid Liberals in Parliament were three things about New Zealand that impressed him, said Mr. W. Jarrett, of Hastings, England, who has been paying a visit to Hawke's Bay. Ho left to-day for Auckland. Much moro freedom in betting was allowed in England, said Mr. Jarrett, although an attempt had been made to stop street betting. However, ho thought they would never be able to do it. Mr. Jarrett said he could not get a glass of beer at any New Zealand railway station. He also criticised the hours of hotels. In England hotels opened at about 10 a.m. and closed for three hours in the afternoon, b'ut the bulk of their bar trade was done from 5.30 to 10.30 p.m. There was very little drunkenness apparent. Also he attributed the number of cases of - intoxication in New Zealand to the fact that those who desired to drink did npt get to the hotel much before 5.30 p.m. and were compelled by law to depart at 6 p.m. "They have to drink fast," he said, "and that is no good to anyone."

Tho closing of tearooms in many places at 5.15 p.m. to conform to tho 40-hour week was described by Mr. Jarrett as ridiculous. He said ho did not approve of sweated labour, but he thought short hours for labour had been carried too far.

Criticising the huge Labour majority in the New Zealand Parliament, ho said that since England's return to conservatism she was better off than she had ever been. However, ho felt sure that if England had had a Glad' stone there would have been 110 Italian conquest of Abyssinia. Britain's failure to put down her foot had boon caused, he thought, by the generally weakening effect of two Socialist Governments.