LIQUOR LAWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 6

LIQUOR LAWS

QUESTION OF ENFORCEMENT POLICE POWERS INSUFFICIENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 23. Insufficient powers were possessed by the police for the enforcement of tlie liquor laws, said the Commissioner of Police, Mr James Cummings, concluding his evidence before the Royal Commission on Licensing to-day. He had some cpmment to make on the public’s attitude towards hotel hours. His observations were made in reply to questions by the chairman (Mr Justice Smith).

“Mr Commissioner, you have made a number of suggestions for the improvement of the law, but the commission was set up, I take it, with a view to inquiring into some sense of dissatisfaction which is general with tht conditions of the liquor trade,” said the chairman. “ From the point of view of your experience, what is the main mischief which requires to be remedied?” The Commissioner: After-hour trading, Sir. The chairman: You say that the great dissatisfaction which has apparently resulted in the setting up ot this commission is due to failure to enforce the law?

The Commissioner: Yes; due to insufficient powers being given to the police.

Present Hours Adequate

“Alternatively,” said the chairman, “is the failure to enforce the law partly or mainly due to the fact that numbers of people see no harm in breaking the existing law? ” The Commissioner: A large number of people do consider that they should not be restricted to the hours during which licensed premises are open. The chairman: Then let me ask you one further question. Do you yourself consider, that that is a reasonable attitude, apart'from the existing laws and simply as a citizen, or not?

The Commissioner: It is unreasonable.

The chairman: You think the existing facilities for drinking are sufficient, having regard to the general good of the country, and that what is required is more power to enforce those laws? The Commissioner: I think the hours provided are sufficient for drinking. They may want adjusting, but they are sufficient now. Sitting Adjourned

The commission has adjourned till April 10, when it will resume its sitting in Wellington, after which it will go to Auckland to take evidence.

In a discussion on the future procedure, the chairman asked if counsel would be prepared to submit observations regarding evidence when the commission resumed.

Mr J. D. Willis, for the Crown, said that he proposed to produce other Government officials for cross-examina-tion. and would then call independent witnesses such as the R.S.A., and then the alliance would present its case, and the trade would follow, but he was not closing the Crown’s case. He reserved the right to bring additional evidence if required. Mr H. F. O’Leary, who is representing the New Zealand Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said that the licensed trade had been placed in the position of defendants. He did not feel disposed to place a case before the commission until the whole of the evidence, including that in other centres, had been brought. It was extremely doubtful if they were ready to proceed in Auckland. The chairman said that the commission would consider the matter further.