LIQUOR TRADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 35, 30 March 1942, Page 5

LIQUOR TRADE

BETTER CONTROL SYSTEM IN

THE PROVINCE

"I believe that the liquor trad® has its rightful place in the com-* munity provided it is properly controlled. What I am aiming at, andl P 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 c>n the liquor problem given fit a public meeting in the Theatre lloyal, Hamilton, by Canon R. G. Coats, of Auckland. 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 to-day are excessive drinking, excessive gambling and prostitution, with all their ramifications," said Canon Coats. "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. Fana-» tical groups of people had not improved the position, but if I had nothing constructive to offey I would not try to do anything."