NO MORE “ SHOUTING.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1603, 26 August 1916, Page 3

NO MORE “ SHOUTING.”

WHAT THE EFFECT WILL BE,

POSITION OF HOTELKEEPERS.

The “anti-shouting” regulations under the War Regulations Act will eome into force on Monday morning, and from the opening hour (0 a.m.) the mere utterance of the wellknown formula, “Come and have a drink/’ will be likely to lead to trouble. Meanwhile the Wellington Licensed Victuallers’ Association has (according to the Post) issued the following circular: —

THE WAR REGULATIONS,

INSTRUCTIONS TO LICENSEES

The above regulations come into force on Monday, the 28th August, l!H(i, and their effect is;— (a) To absolutely prohibit shouting in a bar by any person. (Note. —A bar includes any part, of the premises used principally for the sale, supply, and consumption of lirpior.) (b) To make it an offence for any licensee or employee in an hotel to supply liquor to any person unless such person himself pays for it. (c) To prohibit women from entering or remaining in a bar (as defined above) or from loitering about the entrance to such bar after H p.m.

(Note. —The attention of licensees who have bottle stoves is particularly drawn to this.) (d) To preserve the existing privileges of (1) boarders and any persons bona tide resident, on the premises with regard to shouting, exeept in the bar of the hotel; (2) the existing right to supply liquor for eonsuinplion at meals, provided such meal is served not earlier than noon and elsewhere than in the bar of the hotel.

Enquiries made of the leading hotelkeepers go to show that they intend to do their best to comply with the letter and spirit of the regulations. Large printed copies of the above circular are to be posted up in every bar, and the slated intention is that all concerned shall lake part in carrying out the new law. Asked as to what its effect on the trade is likely to be, a. leading hotelkeeper said it was not safe to venture a prediction. Hotelkeepers were going to do their best to see that the law is observed, anjp full waring was being given to the employees that they must fultil (heir duty in that respect. Whether the application of the regulations would result in a decrease of drinking, or the cutting down of hotel staffs, remained to be seen.

Generally speaking, “flu* man in the street” appears to be willing to comply with the war-imposed regulation. Naturally, some are sceptical, but for the most part the opinion appears to be that there will bo a general acceptance of the new condition of affairs. Again, it is pointed out that the regulation will practically eliminate the “bar sponger,” whose occupation will be gone.