LIQUOR ON RACECOURSES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3319, 11 September 1911, Page 5

LIQUOR ON RACECOURSES.

A TROTTING CLUB’S PLEA

APPLICATION FOR LICENSE

REFUSED

(.HER, PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 9

The Avon Licensing Committee oday refused to grant a conditional license for the. New Brighton Trotting Club’s two- days meeting this month. The President of the Club, in placing Fie position before the Committee, stated that the question of whether the application for a conditional license was graiifted or not, did not iiHocrb tlie amount of liquor consumed. At present a dirag .ran to and from a. hotel and the course between every race, and some or tlie men landed back at the course halt intoxicated. Large quantities of liquor were brought on to the grounds, and lie knew of one instance in which a party of voting men had taken liquor into trie stand in the presence of ladies and had got “beastly drunk.” When, lie had remonstrated with them they had used insulting language to him. and he had them removed from the stand, and they took their liquor to another part of the ground. Sueih instances were frequent, and they were duo. to the club not haring a booth which it could properly control. The. Chairman : It is not a matter of control by the club ; the- committee has the control. In reply to questions, a constable -aid ho had not seen the, incident referred to, hut he had seen kegs of beer about the racecourse and people drinking. There- were five policemen: at the last meeting, and there -was a good deal of drunkenness but there is, of course, a. certain' amount of liberty on race days. The President explained! that when a bottle was opened it was: generally finished straight away. There 'had been more liquor drunk om Fie ground since the' club had been refused q, license The Chairman: You will be' m tlie Tvaianoii electorate! next, meeting, and you will not he subject to- tins committee.