LICENSING QUESTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 9

LICENSING QUESTION

REFORMS IN BRITAIN ROYAL COMMISSION’S REPORT (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, January 7. The Royal Commission on licensing, which has been sitting for over two years, and has examined scores of witnesses representing different viewpoints on this highly controversial subject, lias now issued practically a unanimous report, although three of the 19 members dissent from certain proposals. The main recommendations are:—A uniform closing hour of 10 p.m, throughout the country for all public houses, but an extension in establishments where meals are served with drinks; a speedier reduction of redundant licenses; improvement in the public house as a place of general refreshment; experimental expansion of public ownership; and the creation of a National Licensing Commission to stabilise a policy of more effective control of clubs and special hotel and restaurant licenses. GROWTH OF COCKTAIL HABIT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 7. The Licensing Commission proposes that clubs should be subject to the same law as hotels, with police right of entry. It admits that it views with apprehension the growth of the cocktail habit among the young of both sexes, but in the face of considerable indulgence in the habit in private houses, the commission is unable to submit a recommendation. Lady Ernest Simon is the only straight-out advocate of public ownership.