REDISTRIBUTION OF LICENCES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23262, 25 July 1945, Page 4

REDISTRIBUTION OF LICENCES

Objection Expressed I I N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 24. The objections by the licensed trade on the West Coast to the transfer of licences from there to other districts if a redistribution of licences took place following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Licensing were expressed to the Commission by Mr Dowell. The combined Westland, Grey. Buller and Motueka committees urged the retention of licensing committees which should fix the hours they considered suitable lor their districts, •subject to the opening hour not being before 9 a m. and the closing hour not later than 11 p.m., with the present two-hour closing on Saturday afternoon to be rescinded. The committees should not be restricted in their powers to authorise the removal of licences from one part of the district to another, and should determine accommodation according to the reI quirements of the particular locality Their opinion was that houses finance .i by the trade were not inimical to the public as those who did the financing ; took e ery care to select persons who would be successful as licensees. They were opposed to State control. To Mr P. Malthus <a member of the Commissioni. Mr Dowell said Hokitika , with a jopulation ol less than 3000 had I 14 licences, which were giving good service and providing a living for people. | Mr Malthus: It seems out of proporj tion to places like Hamilton, a fastI -mowing town of 22.000. with only four I licensed hotels. I Mr Dowell' I admit that, is so. There arc far too manv at Hokitika and too few at Hamilton. I agree with vou