LIQUOR LICENSES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 33, 2 September 1949, Page 4

LIQUOR LICENSES

Sir, —Your correspondent “Democracy” has chosen a pen name strangely at variance with his general attitude in relation to the supply of liquor. A Democrat should abide by the will of the people and should not attempt to extend or distort the attitude of a responsible group of businessmen who over the years have worked in the public interest. It is true that there was a referendum this year and the verdict of the people, supported no doubt by the Chamber of Commerce, was just simply that they did not want drinking hours extended beyond 6 p.m. They had no opportunity in that referendum of saying whether or not they did or did not want increased drinking facilities, and “Democracy” has no colour of right to infer that they did.

“Democracy” has conveniently forgotten thatr the will of the people was expressed emphatically in the

licensing referendum in November 1946, when the people by a majority of three to one decided emphatically against prohibition. ' True to farm, ‘‘Democracy” now says that while the people rejected prohibition, at least they must dure uncomfortable overcrowded, drinking conditions. \ D The Chamber of Commerce qre to be congratulated upon the fact that they have adopted a realistic attitude in approaching the question. I doubt whether one member of the Chamber of Commerce would • suggest building a modern hotel while homes are so short. They do realise however that business in the district is expanding and that it is becoming more densely populated. Even now additional accommodation is needed both far tourists and businessmen. A tourist is-not a social menace. Usually he is a temperate man who by virtue of his industry and sobriety has been able to save enough money to take his wife and sometimes his family upon a tour outside. his own district. The Chamber of Commerce were realistic enough to see that the opportunity to apply for an additional license is now but that the opportunity to build an hotel may havay to wait for one, or two, three, more years—at least until the demand for private homes and other buildings has been reasonably overtaken.

Ymirc; rtf p ANTI-DICTATOR

J3ir, —It is just possible that your correspondent Democracy is under a misapprehension concerning the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce towards the question ofa •wholesale license. The' Chamber has never ever felt that it was concerned with guaging the intensity of the local thirst or what is meant by quenching it in a wholesale way. For about 50 years, the people every election year have defended the right to quench their thirst how they wall and-each election they seem to grow more emphatic on the question. In suggesting that a wholesale license be granted in the Whakatane area, the Chamber of Corn-; merce has asked for no additional drinking facilities. They are concerned only with the rationalisation of. the existing facilities. The two existing hotels probably are agents for wholesale licensees and there are several agents for wholesalers operating in the town. These agents are a great convenience to the man who desires a little liquor but who does not wish to go to a hotel to purchase it. The agents operate under difficulties because they are hedged around with _ restrictions and the law itself relating to these agencies is not very understandable to the man in the street. The Chamber’s only request is that one or more ■of these agents should be given the right to trade in his own name. The chief advantage of this arrangement would be. that the price of the goods could be reduced to the customer,‘a good deal of confusion would be eliminated, and all of the profits of these undertakings would not necessarily have to go outside the town. Yours etc., ANOTHER DEMOCRA'fr