The president of a private club hoping to avoid the Government smoking ban has outlined the reasons why he applied for an exemption.

Joseph Hayward, of the Queen's Club in Hamilton, said that members and staff simply wanted to carry on lighting up.

"They are happy with the way things are," Mr. Hayward told . "We are a private club. They are members and we feel we should oblige them."

Chief Medical Officer John Cann has already revealed that more than a dozen venues are set to find out within a fortnight whether they have been successful in their battle against the ban, outlawing smoking in bars, restaurants and offices.

The new law allows for some exemptions ? and Dr. Cann said about 15 applications had been received, mainly from private clubs.

He refused to say whether they would be successful or name any of the applicants, but yesterday Mr. Hayward confirmed that the Queen's Club was among the protestors .

The president said he thought there was a chance the venue ? where membership is $350 a year ? could remain a smoking friendly establishment. "I believe so," he added. "We are a private club. It's not public, so we should be exempt."

And what would happen if members are told to stub their cigarettes out? "We will make provisions. People can go outside on the porch or outside the back."

He did not think members would leave if the ban was rubberstamped and the exemption bid failed, as there were plenty of other events organised at the venue. "We will just have to wait and see," he added.

Queen's Club barman Raymond Ward said the majority of members wanted to carry on lighting up. "All the staff smoke," he added.

Elsewhere, staff at Hubies Bar, Angle Street, confirmed they had also applied for an exemption but would not comment further.

Brad Woodings, commodore at Sandys Boat Club, however, said it would be remaining smoke free.

"We had a membership meeting and the general feeling was we would not be able to fight it.

"We've been smoke-free all summer. There's no point playing around ? you might as well go with it when you have to."

A bar worker at the Mariners Club, Hamilton, said he thought that there had been a drop in business since the ban came into place in April.

"I've been here ten years and I would attribute it to the smoking ban," he told , adding that members now lit up in a designated area outside.

"I have customers that do not smoke in their homes because their families are against it, but they come here to smoke. Some don't want to go outside."

He said he was not aware of management requesting an exemption from Government, but added: "We should if we haven't done already."

Meanwhile, a worker at the Captain's Lounge, Reid Street, said that smoking would not be making a return to the venue, because it serves food.

He said that the ban had "no real impact", when asked if customer numbers had dipped as a result. And he said the new smokers' terrace was often fairly busy.

The smoking law, which came into place on April 1, outlaws people lighting up in bars, restaurants, offices and patios with rooftops.