SALE OF LIQUOR IN THE PARK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8450, 29 May 1907, Page 5

SALE OF LIQUOR IN THE PARK.

MATTER AGAIN BEFORE THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Deputations from the Wairarapa Caledonian Society and the Masterton St. Patrick's Day Sports Association waited on the Borough Council, last evening, and asked that the local sports societies be allowed to have a licensed booth in the Park during sports gatherings. Cr Pauling handed in a petition containing 510 names in support of a similar application. Mr J. Cross also handed in a petition opposing the sale of liquor in the Park.

Mr C. A. Pownall said he represented the Wairarapa Caledonian Society and wished the Council to use their common sense in the matter. He did not himself place much faith in petitions. For 30 'years sports meetings had been held in the Park, and he had not heard of any case of drunkenness or assault in connection with the meetings. He did not know of any Caledonian Sopiety in the colony that did not have a booth at its meeting. The conduct of the gatherings had always been excellent, and he saw no reason whatever for doing away with licensed booths. There had never been any drunkenness in the Park during a sports meeting. He criticised Mr Cross' action in the matter, and said he could not understand why he (Mr Cross) had initiated the movement for doing away with the booth in the Park.

Cr Temple said that the movement was intitiated by the Park Committee, not by Mr Cross. Mr Pownall: Very well, I accept the correction. I gave the Park Committee credit for more sense. Mr Pownall, continuing, said that the matter simply amounted to one section of the community trying to force a thing on the other section. If the Caledonian Society and St. Patrick's Day Sports Association could not have a booth on the Park they would look for another ground on which to hold their meetings. Mr B. J. Dolan, on behalf of the St. Patrick's Day Sports Association, advanced similar arguments to Mr Pownall.

The Mayor said that he placed little reliance on petitions. The Council would have to use their own judgment on the matter. He did not attach much importance to arguments that had been used.

Cr Temple moved that "No liquor be allowed in the Park." He considered that the arguments used by Messrs Pownall and Dolan were weak. They had said that the sports societies could not carry on without a booth in the Park. If that W-a3 so the sooner they ceased being sports societies the better.

Cr Elliott seconded the motion, and contended that gatherino-s on the Park could be carried on successfully without a booth.

Cr Ewington supported the motion, and said that Mr Cross was to be commended for the stand he had taken in the matter.

Cr Pauling said he opposed the motion. He considered it was a matter for the Licensing Bench to deal with. „ .

Cr Morris also opposed the motion. The license at the Park, he said, had never been abused, and there had never been any disgraceful scenes at the sports gatherings there. Cr Haughey objected to a small section of the community dictating to the rest of the residents. He opposed the motion.

Crs Prentice and Pragnell spoke in favour of the motion, and Cr Yarr against it. The motion was then put to the meeting, and declared carried. The voting was as follows: — Ayes: The Mayor, Crs Temple, Elliott, Ewington, Pragnell and Prentice. Noes: Crs Pauling, Morris, Haughey and Yarr.