EVENING OPENING OF BARS

Chronicle (Levin), 3 September 1946, Page 5

EVENING OPENING OF BARS

-Press Association

STATE OWNERSHIP OF BREWER1ES LICENSING COMMISSIOPTS RECOMMENDATIONS

By Telegraph —

, WELLINGTON, Septcmber 3. Public ownership of all breweries in New Zealand, the opening of bars on week-day evenings and the sale of liquor in restaurants are the three outstanding recommendations in the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing, which was tahled in the House of Representatives this afterrioon. The report, which contains about a quarter of a million words, consists of majority findings by the chairman, Mr. Justice Smith, and four members of the Commission, Messrs B. F. Logie, P. Marthus, E. M. Robinson and J. P, Ruth, and rninority reports by each of the other three members, Messrs G. W. Hutchison, P. Coyle and F. G. Young, M.L.C.

The majority report proposes the creation of a State liquor manufaeture and sale board to acquire the breweries, which, it says, would cost on the evidence of the balance sheets sornething less than £2,000,000. The brewery profits would be used, firstly, to repay the Government for advances made for the purchase of the breweries and, secondly, for payments into a central liquor fund controlled by the Public Trustee, from which money would be lent through the State Advances Corporation to licensees for hotel improvements, and from which grants would be made for cultural, philanthropic, and recreational purposes. The establishment of a liquor licences distribution commission to review existing licences and issue new ones is also proposed. The Commission's plan for revised drinking hours allows for the staggering of oponing times so that bars may open between 8 and 10 p.m. from Monday to Friday, although the Saturday opening would be restricted to the period from noon until 6 p.m. In restaurants the sale of light liquors would be permitted with meais of at least two courses between noon and 2 p.m. and between 5.30 and 7 p.m. The recommendations made in the majority report as to these amended hours and extended facilities are dependent on the administering of the major scheme of public control of breweries. Thej' are based on the definite view of the majority that intoxicating liquor is a commodity with

dangerous possibilities, and therefore in the public interest requiring safeguards not ordinarily necessary. Other recommendations include the establishment of a liquor trade inspection anc advisory board, the granting of increased powers to licensing committees, the provision for local trusts on the Invercargill model and provision for new types of licences, including charters for specific clubs, such as R.S.A. clubs. The report also suggests the granting of pepmits for liquor at receptions in restaurants and all private parties in private dance halls or cabarets. The present restrictions on the supply of alcohol to Maoris should remain, says the report, but it suggests the taking of separate Maori and European referendums in the King Country upon the question ■ of

whether hotel or bar licences should be issued there. The Commission suggests that if both votes are affirmative licences may be allocated, and that otherwise licences be issued to State tourist hotels, such as those at Waitomo and the Chateau Tongariro and that elub charters be issued. Although the majority report does not favour corporate control of the eomplete liquor trade, it submits that electors should be given an opportunity to determine this matter. The most interesting feature of the rninority report is the strong opposition of Mr. Young, representing the hotel workers, to the corporate control scheme, which, he says, is more of a plan for a new totalitarian State than for a freedom-loving people.