Legal and Parliamentary Dept.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 5, 1 September 1960, Page 6

Legal and Parliamentary Dept.

Please read at Union Meetings

Licensing Committee Report: This report was discussed when Ifistrict Presidents and Dominion Officers’ meetings were held in Wellington in July. While v»me of the proposal* could be commended, other* caused great dissatisfaction and perturbation. Points to l»e commended are the locking of public bars, no liquor at Airports, continued prohibition of liquor at public dance*, suggested limitation of liquor advertising and pro|*osal for effective alcohol education. On the other hand, not satisfied with proposing evening drinking till 11 30 pm in restaurant* and that this Ik* itn|K»*ed ill suburban and no licence districts, the committee makes it clear that minors would be permitted to consume liquor in restaurants. The licensing of barmaid* is proposed and a most tint »ii arrangement for voting re new licences No turtlier rote, if licence is carried. If licence is not carried, further votes till it is. \ most undemocratic proposal! Restaurant drinking would cut right across the heavy vote given for 6 pm. closing in PM9. Those members of the Committee who visited Xustralia to observe late closing said nothing whatever about contact* with social welfare organisations, w’h«» are the people who know most about the true effects. If such contacts were made, they were not mentioned. After all, its proposals for further drisking facilities, the report ended with some proposal (rather vague) for further education on uses ami abuses of alcohol in our schools. I thought of the many tm?es | had received letters stating that this was all l»eiiig done effectively. Important: Unions have already been asked and individual members requested to write to their local M P.s protesting against the Committee’s proposals for barmaids, restaurant drinking, dancing on licenced premises and urging the return of local option. Reference should be made of the fact that minors would he able to purchase liquor in restaurants. The first woman Cabinet Minister has been appointed in Japan as Minister of Welfare and the first woman Prime Minister in the world will be Mr*. Banaratiche of Ceylon. Congratulations to o«i||| N.C.W. Auckland lias issued a splendid tnag.i /me. W omen s \'iew]M>int The early work of the \ ZAX'.C.T l receive** much attention ami it is ably edited bv Mrs | \\\ }b»!t

L K.Y. firigg, (Director, L. K P. I>ept)