The Permissive Bill.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 137, 25 June 1872, Page 3

The Permissive Bill.

The West Coast Tl.m of May 00 gives the following summary of the above :- We are in receipt of the draft of the measure commonly known as the "Permi«"ive Bill," which will be introduced in fcue ne::t .session of the General Assembly. Part second makes provision for dividing the Colony into licensing districts, wherein Resident Magistrates appointed by the Governor for the purpose are to carry the provisions of the Act into effect. It also prescribes the conditions and limitations under which the various kinds of licences to lie issued maybe granted. The third part contains legulations for granting licences to publicans, it confers upon the Resident Magistrate a discretionary power in granting or refusing a licence, and specially enacts that he shall not be obliged to grant the same merely because the "requirements of the law as to the accommodation, or the personal fitness of the applicant, are fulfilled, unless in his opinion there is a necessity for the public-house for which <he application is made. In addition to the restraint provided by investing Resident Magistrates wih disj. ecionary power, it is provided (hat no licence shall be granted unless a memorial be produced in favour of the same, signed by* at lease one-,bird of the residents of the district who may be entitled to a vote under the prohibitory clauses of the Act. The genuineness of the signatures is to be verified on oath, and the Resident Magistrate is to be guided as to the propo'tioual number of the signatures to the whole population of the district, by ibe census returns-, by the list of ratepayers, or by such Other evidence! as may be procurable. The fourth ]),i'-t contains the prohibitory classes, and defines the mode by which the sale of alcoholic liquors may be prohibited in any district. At any time twenty of the residents of a district (male or female, of full age) may require the Resident Magistrate io i; d;c ■he votes of thedist! ice as to the expediency of bringing into operation the prohibitory clauses of the Act. Should there be iwo-tbirds of the aggregate number of vo.es collected in favour of the | adoption of the prohibitory clauses, then no certificate or licence whatever may be granted or renewed for tin; sale of alcoholic liquors in such disttict. Any pe'son theieaftc- selling or disposing of alcoholic I liquors wUr'n such district is to be dealt with as v\),hv the present law unlicensed | vendors are treated, viz.. bv line and seizure of the liquois. An exception is. howevar, made in respect of publicans already jlieonsed. who are permitted to vend alcoholic liquors during the currency of their licences. At the expiration of three years after the compulsory clauses are adopted in any district, any Jifty residents may require the Resident Magistrate again to rake the votes of the voters as to the continuance or otherwise of the operation of such clauses. There is a schedule to the proposed Act detailing the a>li,U which are prohibited to be used in adulterating I alcoholic liquors, ami for the use of any one of which, the person so offending is rendered liable to a fine of not less than | £lO, nor more than /-2Q, for the first ollence; a second or ibird offence, to not less than £2O, nor more than £IOO. | When any person shall b.ve been convicted of adultera in- alcoholic liquors, it will be the duty of the clref police officer in the district to am - ;; a notice of the same in some conspicuous pot of the licensed 'premises, on a placard printed in large [print, slating the fact, and the causa of Isueh con'';-ion, and the licensed person i must keep Jae placard where it has been ] "laced for s'*.\ months. All adulterated liquors, and all ingredients used for tiie : purpose of adulteration, are to be destroyed when seV.ed, and i egulations are to be made Iby the Gove aor in Council for the inispeclmno: b'conscd houses, and for demandling and purchasing any liquors for the [purpose of subjecting them to analysis.