LATE DRINKING IN HOTELS

Southland Times, Issue 23374, 4 December 1937, Page 9

LATE DRINKING IN HOTELS

TASK OF NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE (United Press Association) HASTINGS, December 3. That it is not the duty of the New Zealand Alliance to give evidence enabling the police to secure convictions in after-hour hotel cases was a statement made by Mr H. W. Milner, general superintendent of the alliance in a statement made today in reply to Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., when he criticized the letter received by the Auckland City Licensing Committee. “It is not the function of the New Zealand Alliance to seek out evidence to secure convictions,” said Mr Milner. “In the instance under review, seeing the police laid complaints to the committee they must have had evidence in support and it is for them to prosecute.” Mr Milner said the task of the alliance was to build up an educated public conscience against the use of alcohol, to obtain restrictive measures and ultimately its elimination by the direct vote of the people. “When legislation is enacted,” he said, “it is the task and responsibility of licensing committees and the police to enforce the laws in respect to hotels.”