LIQUOR CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1942, Page 5

LIQUOR CONTROL

PENALTIES FOR TRADING AFTER HOURS COMMENTS BY PREMIER. EFFORT TO MINIMISE EVILS OF DRUNKENNESS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Under the Licensing Act Emergency Regulations (1942) No. 2, the pena ty for” after-hour trading is fixed for the vendor at a minimum of £lO and a maximum of £lOO, and for the purchaser at a minimum of £2 and a maximum of £lO. Commenting on the new regulations, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, stated that in common with all nations engaged in war New Zealand had had to face the problem of restricting in some measure facilities for the pui chase an consumption Of alcoholic beverages. Naturally, 'in a question of this kind, there weiTi the greatest differences o opinion as to the right course to adopt. Very sincere people held divergent views on the best means of dealing with excessive drinking which was admitted to be a social evil. The Government and War Cabinet had had many meetings to discuss these regulations, which were designed to grapple with an evil which had become accentuated owing to war circumstanC “It must be recognised,” said Mr Fraser, “that it is not part of the Government’s function to introduce prohibition under the guise of war emergency, but only to take those me sures calculated to minimise the evils of drunkenness and to promote sobriety. I believe that the reduction m the alcoholic content of beer has already done much to achieve this, but it is felt that these further steps are necessary to meet the position by increasing sobriety in the nation geiieral y and for the promotion of the efficiency of New Zealand’s war effort.”