XN000022-1988-12-09 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1988

TOUGHER LAW ON BILLIARD CLUBS EFFECTIVE NEXT DECEMBER

A NOTICE TO ANNOUNCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH MUNICIPAL SERVICES

AND (AMENDMENT} ORDINANCE 1988, CONTROL ON BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS, WAS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

APPLYING TOUGHER

THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM 15 NEXT YEAR. ALSO COMING INTO EFFECT THAT DAY WILL BE THE AMUSEMENT (URBAN COUNCIL) (AMENDMENT) BY-LAWS 1988 AND THE AMUSEMENT (REGIONAL COUNCIL) (AMENDMENT} (No.2) BY-LAWS

DECEMBER

PLACES OF PLACES OF

1988.

THESE PROVIDE FOR EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING CERTAIN CLASSES DESCRIPTIONS OF BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS.

AND

THEN, BILLIARDS,

A MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT BY ANY PLACE OPENED, KEPT OR USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLAYING SNOOKER, POOL OR SIMILAR GAMES WOULD HAVE ΤΟ BE AUTHORITY (THE URBAN COUNCIL OR THE REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.

THE EXCEPTION WAS GENUINE PRIVATE HOMES WITH FEWER THAN FOUR TABLES.

LICENSED BY THE COUNCIL) UNDER THE

AND

ESTABLISHMENTS

"TO ENABLE EXISTING PRIVATE CLUB OPERATORS EITHER TO APPLY

BUSINESSES, THEY HAVE MONTHS FROM THE GAZETTING DATE OF

A LICENCE OR TO WIND UP THEIR GRACE PERIOD OF 12 1988," HE EXPLAINED.

FOR

BEEN GIVEN A

DECEMBER 9,

"BILLIARDS HAS BECOME POPULAR AND MANY ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN SET UP AS PRIVATE CLUBS, SUPPOSEDLY OPEN ONLY TO GUESTS.

MEMBERS AND THEIR

"HOWEVER, MEMBERSHIP OF SOME OF THESE PRIVATE BILLIARD CLUBS IS EASILY AND ALMOST INSTANTLY AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PAYMENT OF A SMALL ENTRANCE FEE OF $5 TO $10."

PUBLIC THROUGH

THEY WERE IN FACT OPERATING AS DE FACTO PUBLIC SALOONS UNDER THE GUISE OF PRIVATE CLUBS, THEREBY TO BE SUBJECT TO LICENSING CONDITIONS.

AVOIDING

SALOONS

"LICENSING CONDITIONS OF PUBLIC BILLIARD PROVISO THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE BETWEEN 2 AM THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"MORE IMPORTANTLY, PRIVATE BILLIARD CLUBS ARE RELEVANT LAWS WHICH ENABLE AUTHORITIES TO VISIT PREMISES TO ENSURE THAT THE OPERATOR MAINTAINS GOOD PREMISES.

NOT

BILLIARD THE NEED

INCLUDE A AND 8 AM,

"I

10

SUBJECT

THE LICENSED ORDER ON THE

INCIDENCE OF

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASED CRIME IN PRIVATE BILLIARD CLUBS WAS A MATTER OF SERIOUS CONCERN, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE POTENTIAL EFFECT ON YOUNG WITII UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS IN BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS CONTROL.

PERSONS MIXING NOT SUBJECT TO

"THIS VIEW