PERMITS FOR BREWERIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17804, 31 August 1929, Page 7

PERMITS FOR BREWERIES.

SYSTEM CRITICISED. PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONSULTED. AMENDMENT DESIRED. (Times Correspondent.f WELLINGTON, Friday. The system of granting permits for breweries was strongly criticised by Mr A. W. Hall (Hauraki), in Ihc House of Representatives to-day, with particular application to the granting of permits to establish a brewery at Otatluhu. He did not condemn the Minister of Customs (Hon. W. B. Taverner) who apparently had,followed the usual procedure, but this gave no opportunity for representation to' be made by local residents, the first intimation they received being that the brewery would be established. It was a fault of the system said Mr Hall, as it contained no provision for such licensps to be advertised and permit the wishes of local people being ascertained. If that was the law it was altogether wrong. The local licensing authorities should be responsible for issuing the licenses, and it was altogether wrong that the matter should be dealt with entirely by the Minister of Customs. He was speaking not for those opposed to the liquor traffic, but for the residents generally, who objected to the principle of a license being granted without any reference to them. The Prime Minister had stated he could not introduce licensing legislation this session: “I am quite a new' member,” added Mr Hall, "but I have heard that Governments generally arc diffident about introducing licensing legislation. It requires a lot of political courage, but I don’t insinuate that the Prime Minister is lacking in that, and I hope one or two small amendments will be brought forward this session.”

The points involved argued Mr Hall, were not contentious, being merely that the breweries should not be established in any residential area on the authority of the Minister of Customs without consulting the residents.