MINORITY DISSENTING REPORT

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1946, Page 8

MINORITY DISSENTING REPORT

STATE CONTROL OF BREWERIES Jn a minority report, Mr. Percy Coyle dissents frqm the proposals for public or State CQntrol for breweries as beipg optside the Cominission.'s order of reference, and a matter which the electors should determixxe. He also dissents front "the proposal to take over any hotel licences and -issuing in their place "har licences" to a public or State authority. The proposals to set up a body to bring appeals l'rom licensing committees and also tlie proposals designed to give the public greater facilities and freedom (but only xn this case because they do not go nearly far enough) are also dissented to by Mr. Co,yle. He suggested tlyat eounsel for the Crown, rn discassing the probahle cost of all breweiies and hotels, liad ignored the goodwilLfaetor entirely in the ease of hoteis, where he assessed their total calue at £10,000,000. Mr. Coyle expresses dissent from apy extensiou of trust control similar to Invercargill, and expresses the opinion that local control by licensing committees, with as great decentralisation as possible, is the best control. He disagrees with measures for the special control of liquor among Maoris, stating that it is a question whether the Alaori lias adjusted liimself sufiiciently to European conditions to be permitted access to liquor on an equal basis with the pakeha. King Country "Scandal." "AVliatever may be the auswer to this question," he continued, "I have come to the conclusion that no licencti in the King Country is a failure, and more — -it is a scandal." Alr. Coyle considers the triennial poll should be abolished. Alr. G. AV. Ilutchison, in a minority report, disagrees with tlie majority recommendations regarding the purchase of breweries and the establishment of a Central Liquor Fund, which, ae states, is equivalent to Htate control. This lias lieen steadfastly rcjected by electors ■ at every licensing poll, lie states. He recommends the establishment of a National Liquor Control Board, liaving no power to engage in trade, but possessing sole authority for the issue or cancellation of every type of liquor licence, and permanent suiiervision of all pliases of the trade. The board would issue licences 011 the favourable reconimendation of appropriate licensing committees, and it sliould appoint. inspectors of retail licensed premises and breweries. It sliould comprise a chairman nominated by the Minister of Justice and four otlier memlmrs to be nominated l»y thn Afunicipal Association, the Counties' Association, the • Licensed Victuallers' Association, and the Eederation of Labour. To dispose of the tied-house problem •VI r. Ilutchison >r(u,omnicn(ls thut tTciusactions d ealing' with liquor licences be approved by the Nqtional Liquor Control Board.