HOTEL REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 409, 19 January 1909, Page 6

HOTEL REFORM.

THE AUCKLAND PROPOSALS,

REVIEWED BY REV. W. THOMSON.

; ' VMY . TEtHOEAPH— PiIESS AS3OCUTIOS.) ' Dunodin, January 18. .-. In the course of an interview to-day, the Rev.- W. Thomson, agent for the . Licensed Victuallers' , Association, ■ expressed' ; the opiriion-that the reform proposed by . the Trade in. Auckland wa-s'very good so far as it went. He had held for sevoral years that provided present barmaids were' justly dealt with (say allowed four or, five years), the work could be much better done by men and, after that time, he would employ no barmaids: Hβ thought that the age at whicf youths could be served with liquor in hotels should be raised to 21 years, and remarked that : the Otago Association had asked for that when the 1904 Act was passed. Tho fault of. youthful drunkenness lay largely with home life. He thought-that the proposal that no woman should bo served with drink for consumption in hotels, unless she was a lodger, was much too arbitrary and severe. On the whole ho agreed with Auckland's suggested reforms,'but the Trade must , go further. Hβ also, thought that "NoLicenso" would certainly mean "no liquor." The law shouldbe amended, adding an option in favour of either State or municipal control. Hβ preferred municipal control, giving: reasonable compensation by arbitration. • Ho strongly opposed the exorbitant'rents which some hotelkoepers had to pay, and three years ago had suggested a fair rent Bill for hotels.