LICENSING TRUST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27514, 7 October 1950, Page 8

LICENSING TRUST

Bars Separate From Accommodation PROVISION AT INVERCARGILL PA WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. ! With an amendment moved by Mr A.% R. Cockerell (Invercargill) to the effect that provision should be made for the statutory establishment of bars without accommodation the Invercarfill Licensing Trust Bill was passed y the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. , Mr Cockerell’s argument was that provision was made for such establishments in the Masterton Licensing Trust area, but not in the Invercargill Bill. He emphasised the need for reasonable facilities for suburban dwellers to have a glass of beer without having to travel into the city. District members who subsequently gpoke heartily supported the amendment. which was agreed to. General agreement with the amendment was expressed by members of the Lower House.

The amendment allows the trust to have bars separate from buildings where accommodation is provided and to sell liquor in premises where accommodation is not provided for the travelling public. The Attorney-general, Mr Webb, said that the Invercargill Trust would have power, in exceptional circumstances, to sell liquor in premises where accommodation was not provided, ,but that would not relieve it from the necessity to provide accommodation which need not necessarily be in the same premises where liquor was sold. He said he was not entirely happv about the amendment, but he thought the House should accept it. He was giving some thought to the Liquor Control Commission having some say in the supply of liquor in trust areas in order to see that the trusts carried out their responsibilities. ■' Mr J. R. Hanan (Govt., Invercargill) said it might be desirable, from the viewpoint of a considerable number of people, ’to have bars in a different location from the accommodationbars on sites which did not suit the travelling public, which needed accommodation near railway or bus terminals. The obligations of bars and accommodation were kept together under the licensing laws because the hotel side tended to show losses. However, the elimination of the private profit motive made the obligation to provide accommodation easier for -a trust compared with a concern which kad an obligation to its shareholders to run everything at a profit. The amendment was agreed to.