LIQUOR TRADE

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21687, 25 March 1942, Page 2

LIQUOR TRADE

BETTER CONTROL SYSTEM IN AUCKLAND OPERATION IN PROVINCE “I am not here to throw brickbats at the liquor trade or the Government, as too much of this has been done in the past with nothing accomplished. It is absolutely futile and utterly ineffective to attempi to destroy anything unless one has something better to build in its place. I believe that the liquor trade has its rightful place in the community provided it is properly controlled. What I am aiming at, and I intend to see it carried through, is that people in the Dominion not only live decently and eat decently but drink decently, too.” This was the keynote of a stirring address on the liquor problem given at a public meeting in the Theatie Royal, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon by Canon R. G. Coats, of Auckland. Mrs H. C. Ross presided over a large attendance and the Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, welcomed Canon Coats to Hamilton. Fault of Lax Control Declaring that New Zealand was facing the gravest crisis of its history and there was an urgent need for everyone to be thoroughly prepared in body, mind and soul to meet any emergency, Canon Coats said that the evil was not the liquor trade in itself, but the lax control of the trade. He traced the steps taken in Auckland to bring the trade under better control, and stated that what had been accomplished in Auckland would soon be in operation in the 224 hotels under the control of the Auckland Provincial Licensed Victuallers’ Association. This included the hotels in the Waikato. “The three greatest evils facing New Zealand today are excessive drinking, excessive gambling and prostitution, with all their ramifications,” said Canon Coals. “We are trying to correct the troubles at the fountain head and are tackling the problem from within. People have been trying for years to tackle this problem, but with nothing constructive to offer they have not been able to accomplish anything. Fanatical groups of people have not improved the position, but if I had nothing constructive to offer I would not try to do anything.” Dramatic Change Claimed Canon Coats said that his attitude was uncompromising in that the spreading evil of drinking among young people, women, young soldiers in uniform, general drunkenness and after-hours trading must be stopped. He had shown how the liquor trade could be properly controlled and thus remove its evils and the scheme in Auckland had made a dramatic change. With the co-operation of the trade, which was really at last being compelled to put its own house in order, the evil would disappear. The trading hours were also a contributing cause, while the alcoholic content of the liquor was now being tested by the Government.

“The Prime Minister personally told me that he was thankful for the stand I had taken and had expressed the desire that the restrictions imposed in Auckland should spread throughout New Zealand,” said Canon Coats, who added that if the present method did not continue to work successfully he was certain the law of the land would be altered to enforce the many reforms already accomplished and those contemplated.

At the conclusion of the meeting and after Canon Coats had left, resolutions calling on the Government strictly to enforce the licensing laws and reduce the alcoholic content of beer were carried. A deputation consisting of Mesdames H. C. Ross, A. Kay, J. J. Ryburn and P. Newlands was appointed to convey the views of the meeting to the Prime Minister.