RURAL LIFE DULL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25203, 16 May 1945, Page 9

RURAL LIFE DULL

MORE HOTELS URGED COUNTY MEMBER'S VIEWS The redistribution of liquor licences to give rural districts a larger share with the view to improving the attractiveness of living in the country was urged by two representatives of the Hauraki Plains County Council when giving evidence before the Royal Commission on licensing yesterday. They stated that the drift of population to the large centres was undoubtedly caused by the lack of amenities including drinking facilities in the country. A member of the council, Donald G. McMillan, said the county had been the unfortunate victim of the licensing laws as it had been originally divided over two electorates. It had little opportunity of having representation on licensing questions. It was submitted that the licensing system should be I divorced from Parliamentary regional representation, as electorate boundaries I had no practical relationship to the practical needs of the people in the rural areas. The council also urged that ■ the location and numbers of licences I should be controlled by an independent ' commission either appointed or elected ' for each island. It was also suggested : that hotel hours in rural districts should include the period from 6 p.m. to 10 | p.m. Rural hotels should provide the i amenities of a social club. In answer to Mr F. C. Spratt, representing the N. Z. Alliance, witness said that two licences would be necessary to meet the needs of his county residents end business travellers seeking accommodation. Replying to the Hon. F. G. Young, a member of the commission, he said that it was desired to make rural life more attractive so that labour could be got and held. If the law was amended he believed there would be an agitation among county residents to obtain licences for the district. "life is rather dull in rural districts and to get and keep their labour satisfied the fanners readily take their hands out occasionally," said witness. The women of the district had not been directly consulted on the recommendations but he believed they would approve of bringing licences into the district under the existing conditions. VIEWS OF CHURCHES The recommendations for liquor reform which he had presented to the Royal Commission were on behalf of the Dominion organisations of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches, the Society of Friends and the Salvation Army, stated the Rev. J. D. Smith yesterday. The fact that, the evidence was submitted at sittings of the Commission in Auckland did not mean that it was given on behalf of the Auckland churches only. TAVERN FOR SYDNEY INVERCARGILL MODEL BYDNEY, May 7' Plans for the building of a workers' ! Community tavern in Sydney, embrac- < ing residential quarters, restaurant, ; theatre, and refreshment facilities on ] the Continental style, are being discussed by the Darlinghurst branch of the Australian Labour Party. Mr J. A. Duthie, chairman of the Newsreel Committee of the Darlinghurst A.L.P..' stated that promoters of the venture had in mind a hotel built and the lines of the Workers' Tavern in Invercargill, NewZealand "The hotel we propose to build," Mr Dathie said, "will have all the amenities of a first-class hotel. Liquor will he served in surroundings where no fflan will he ashamed to take his sister or mother. _ a "The aim will be to serve _ nonalcoholic liquor. The manager, it has a heen suggested, would get a much s higher commission on the sale of nonintoricants than on beer, spirits or wine." HOMES FOR SOLDIERS ; j, APPEAL TO. CITIZENS » (0.c.) HAMILTON, Tuesday An appeal to residents with rooms to q spare in their homes to make these available to ox-servicemen and their v *ives and families was made by Mr 0. ( y. Bryant, founder of the Rehabilitation Civic League, in, an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club. Mr Bryant described the housing shortage in Hamilton and Auckland as g desperate. He said he had done his d utmost to persuade the Government to s *aive the provisions of the Fair Rents w ■Act, but so far had not succeeded. A y responsibility rested on individual citi- h sens to do their best to assist returned l< to find temporary homes until c ■houses could he built for them. =— 1 CI