N.Z. HOTELKEEPERS

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 16

N.Z. HOTELKEEPERS

THE ANNUAL MEETING THE SOLID VICTORY OF 1935 Tho annual meeting of the United Licensed Victuallers’ Association of New Zealand was held yesterday in the board room of the Public Trust buildings. Tho following delegates representing the various afliliated associations were present; —Messrs J. W. Young (president, Otago), M. O’Brien (vice-presi-dent, Southland),!'. Coltniau (vice-pre-sident, Wellington), R. Berryman and L. Smith (Wellington), P. James (Wanganui), E. J. Kiely (Hawke’s Bay), P. V. Stevens and J. W. Halliday (Waimate), W. Quirk and F. H. Drewitb (Tiinaru), A. Barrett and J. Mackenzie (Christchurch), P. Finlayson (Egmont-Taraiiaki), J. R. Jeffrey (Westport-Buller), A. G. Davis (Mari-borough-Nelson), G. Luoni (Palmerston North), North), A. Stewart, A. A. Paape, J. Trcngrove, J. HinchclilT, F. J. Fay, J. Mitchell, G. Goughian (Dunedin), and D. W. Middleton (Port Chalmers). The following Licensed Victuallers’ Association secretaries were also present:—Messrs J. M. C. M‘Leod (Timaru), J. O. M'Gillivray (Canterbury), and Frank J. Oakes, secretary of the United Licensed Victuallers’ Association of New Zealand, and Mr H. F. Payton (Otago). A number of apologies for absence were received. The president, Mr J. W. Young, welcomed members to the first conference of tho United Licensed Victuallers’ Association of New Zealand to bo held in Dunedin, and hoped that in addition to their sojourn in this citly their deliberations would bo satisfactory to the retail licensed trade of this Dominion. The annual report, which was a very comprehensive one dealing with numerous subjects and activities of the association during the past year, including licensing poll results, industrial, finance, trading aspects, registration of tho various licensed victuallers’ associations in New' Zealand as industrial unions of employers, and the United Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Now Zealand, as tho registered industrial association of hotel employers for the Dominion, was adopted. Tho treasurer’s report on the finances of the association and the balance sheet were also adopted. Tho president and executive were congratulated on the very able reports presented. Tho President, in the course of his remarks when speaking to the report, said the licensing poll was taken since the last annual meeting, and the result had proved most gratifying. It was interesting to note that Prohibition had reached its hmh-water mark in 1911, and had recoded in 1914, maintaining this level with slight alterations to 1922. In 1925 a change was indicated, and since then each poll had resulted in a decreased percentage of votes, until in 1935 only 29.58 per cent, of voters favoured Prohibition. Continuance had definitely improved its position from 44.17 per cent, in 1911, with a slight set-back in 1919, until 1935, when 70.42 per cent, of voters favoured the existing conditions. In last year’s annual report the Executive Council had appealed strongly for 100 per cent, unity, with a view to obtaining a solid victory, and retailers were to be congratulated on this great effort. The general organisation conducted by the National Council and provincial councils throughout the Dominion had, the President stated, proved itself in every phase of its activities, and the results justified amply the wisdom and judgment of those responsible. _ Their personal and collective activities had been well repaid by the fine vote recorded for the continuance of the licensed trade in the Dominion. Such was the will of the people, and it would bo for them to merit the continued goodwill of the people. In June of this year, Mr Young continued, a new agreement was made between the association and the workers’ union. The election of the Labour Government presaged many legislative changes, particularly regarding the industrial aspect, and it was soon made manifest that were to he made to both the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and the Shops and Offices Act. Amongst its early pronouncements, the Government made it clear that both wages, conditions, and hours were to he revised, and generally tho conditions governing employment were to be brought to tho 1931 standard.

The delegates expressed thanks in regard to tlie assistance rendered' by licensees to the executive and for the work of the office staff.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following were elected as officers and Executive Council for the coming year: —President, Mr T. Coltman (Wellington) ; vice-presidents —Mr M. O’Brien (Southland), Mr F. M. Drewitt (South Canterbury), and Mr A. G. Davis (Marlborough and Nelson); executive —Messrs 0. S. Burt (Poverty Bay), E. J. Kiely (Hawke’s Bay), P. S. Finlayson (Taranaki), G. Luom (Wanganui and Palmerston North), B. Stewart (Wellington), R. Berryman (Wellington). A. Barrett (Canterbury), J. Daily (Westport-Buller), and F. J. Fay (Otago) ; Emergency Committee at Wellington—Messrs T. Coltman (president), R. Stewart, and R. Berryman; auditor, Mr J. Hayward (Wellington) ; secretary, Mr Frank J. Oakes (Wellington). _ At Ahc conclusion of the meeting Mr M. Olirien, senior vice-president of the association, on behalf of the delegates, expressed regret at losing Mr J. W. Young, of Dunedin, as an officer, Mr Young had held the position of president "of the United Licensed Victuallers’ Association of New Zealand since his election at Christchurch in 1933. Having retired from business and being no longer eligible for election, bo was asked to accept a small token as a mark of their appreciation and esteem for Ids valued efforts. This he was asked to accept with the delegates’ warmest good wishes and hopes of his services again being available to the association.