THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “ Public Service.” MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1944. LICENSING REFORM

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32409, 20 March 1944, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “ Public Service.” MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1944. LICENSING REFORM

The lack of interest displayed by the general public in Tuesday’s hotel licensing committee elections can only be described as deplorable. Under the existing system of licensing and control of the trade, the standing and strength of district committees is of considerable importance. This will continue to be the case, unless future reform should involve a recasting of control methods. . But the feeling of the majority of people appears to be that the committees, of themselves, can do little or nothing to bring about the changes which are becoming so plainly necessary in the national interest. What is looked for is a review of the law itself, rather than simply improvements—however ’ desirable these may be in certain cases—in the administration of the law. The licensing, problem has become a problem in social policy —a problem which should be grappled with by open-minded, far-seeing commissioners, who are able to approach it without prejudice and without limiting their attention to precedent in this country alone. It is this approach > which the people are expecting, and the Government’s redemption of its promise to embark on the undertaking cannot come about too early. The licensing- committee elections, whatever their results, bring the community no nearer to the kind of reform which will meet needs of present and coming generations.