LIQUOR AT RACES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 934, 6 July 1903, Page 2

LIQUOR AT RACES.

DISCUSSED BY LICENSING BENCH

The question of granting conditional licenses for race meetings was discussed at tne meeting of the Waiapu Licensing Bench on Saturday. • The Chairman, Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., said that as no complaints had been received from the police, the licenses should be granted in these cases. Captain Tucker: And whereas publichouse licenses are given for 365 days in the year, and these are only for two. Mrs Sievwright held that the Committee could not institute comparisons between public-house licenses aod those for race meetings. Was it worthy, was it right, to grant conditional licenses ? They knew very well that at sports, Oddfellows and Good Templars’ gatherings, the men and all the people were perfectly happy with* out the licenses. It was only a matter of custom. The Chairman: I am rather against granting conditional licenses for hospital sports, because women and children go to such a gathering more than to a raoe meeting. Children have no right at races. Mrs Sievwright: Men have no right whore women and children cannot go, and where whisky made it objectionable for ladies to go. The Chairman : I have never heard any complaints that drink has made races objectionable to ladies. Mrs Sievwright: But you said you were against it for hospital Bports. If it is wrong in the one case it is wrong in the other. / The Chairman pointed out that sports and such gatherings were made a picnic for children. Captain Tucker : And there is no poliqs surveillance at sports. At races there are ■ more women than men, on the grandstand, at any rate. If the whole attendance were counted, it would be found there werermore women than men. The Chairman : If conditional licenses are not granted, there will be more drinking than in the past. People will club together and take their hampers, and I feel sure there will be more drinking. Mr Gray: I do not think the fact of granting the licenses ■ will lessen the drinking. Wine and spirits will be taken by private people if the applications are refused.' Mrs Sievwright said if they did the Committee were not responsible, but by granting the licenses they were responsible. Any people who took drink to races would be responsible for their own acts. . it Mr Gray said that while the present law existed there was no harm in granting the licenses. The Chairman : As long as the business under the lioenses is well conducted, I don’t think we ought to refuse the licenses. Captain Tucker : Can we grant licenses from day to day ? The Chairman : We can, but it would mean coming here again. Captain Tucker thought that by giving the license for one day the granting of it for the second day could be conditional on there being no complaints about the first day. The Chairman'; We have had no complaints from the police in the past. Captain Tucker : If would still further ensure that there would be none. Once the application is granted, it is for two

days. Mr Nolan : A similar application will come before you every race meeting, so the licensees are just as likely to be careful now in view of further applications. Captain Tucker : But they would bST different applicants. The Chairman was in favor of granting the licenses for the two days. Mr Gray : If there had been any police complaints it would be different. The Chairman : If there had been ‘any complaints I would be the first to stop the issue of those licenses. lam hot a drinking man at all, but I like to be reasonable. Mr Nolan : If people who complain were only to come along to see how they are conducted they would know better. ' The Chairman I took the trouble to ask Sergeant Siddells about this, and he had no complaints. Captain Tucker favored granting the applications, but at the same time felt inclined to intimate to the licensees that if they gave anything to men who were intoxicated that an information would be laid and their license stopped. From 11

a.m. to 6 p.m. would? lbs long enough, as the /aces did not begin tijl noon. Mrs Sievwright said she \7QUId like to say she had refused her assent $9 the granting of the licenses, on the ground C l representation. She was sent to the Com- ' mittee by the prohibitionists, and she thought those who had been sent by that party should have strong reasons for diaseating. She wished this properly* un- * derstood. . •

Captain Tucker pointed out the Committee could always withdraw the licenses if they found reasons for stopping them. The Chairman : As I said before, in that ease I would be the first to put an end to them.

The licenses were accordingly granted.