LICENSING LAWS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 462, 2 July 1937, Page 5

LICENSING LAWS

REVISION URGED Present Legislation Out Of Date Press Association—Copyright. Auckland, July 1. The view that a revision of the licensing laws was necessary was expressed to-day by the chairman of directors of Dominion Breweries, Mr L. J. Stevens, speaking £.t the annual meeting of shareholders. He said that in many ways the licensing laws were out of date and unsuited to the necessities of the present population. He would welcome legislative enactments which ’ would give greater security to the trade and enable much-needed improvements to be made in accommodation for the travelling public. This necessity could be met by granting new licenses in cities such as Auckland to building owners who were prepared to furnish the necessary accommodation. A redistribution of licenses was not the solution. The removal of existing licenses to centres of population would only help to perpetuate the present monopolistic system and turn into profitable investments more or less worthless assets. If the Government was not prepared to grant new licenses it should* resume the surplus licenses at the present valuations and grant licenses in new locations.