SERVICEMEN & HOTELS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21056, 7 March 1940, Page 3

SERVICEMEN & HOTELS

A LOCKER SYSTEM i. BREACH OF REGULATIONS MEN OUT OF UNIFORM (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday “At week-ends the city is visited by from 1000 to 1500 soldiers, sailors and air force men on leave,” said Police Inspector Scott, quoting from the police report at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Licensing Committee today before the ordinary business was taken. “Many of these men stop at certain hotels and are charged only 2s for bed and Is for each meal. These men have ready money, with the result that they sometimes drink all night long. For a few shillings they become lodgers, and it is difficult to prosecute for being unlawfully on licensed premises. These hotels provide men with lockers at a small annual fee on arrival for the week-end. Many of these men change from their uniforms into civilian clothes and it. is difficult to distinguish them from ordinary civilians.” Chairman’s Comment The chairman, Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., said the practice of establishing lockers at 5s per annum was one with which the committee strongly disapproved. It was a breach of the naval regulations for a rating to be in civilian clothes without special permission, and licensees were encouraging the men to commit a breach of the regulations. The same applied to men in the army. He added: “If the practice is to continue something will be done at the annual meeting of this committee. It may only be necessary to draw attention of licensees to it. We know why it is being done—the men will have a bed for the night in order that they may spend their money in liquor.”