A LICENSING PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 4

A LICENSING PROBLEM.

HOTELS AND ALTERED BOUNDARIES The position of hotels which were transferred, by the Inte alteration of boundaries, from License to Xo-Liccnse districts, was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. W. H. D. Bell, member- for Wellington Suburbs. There are two hotels so circumstanced in Mr. Bell's electorate, one at Porirua anil the other at Pahautanui. Having obtained permission to put a question to the Prime Minister without notice, Mr. Bell asked what the Government intended to do in reference W hotels which had been transferred into No-Licenso areas owing to the alteration of boundaries. Existing licenses expired in June. The matter could only bo put right by legislation, nnd there might not lie time to pass the necessary legislation after Parliament met in June. Mr. Bell suggested that, in order to prevent the loss of these licenses, they might be held over by temporary legislation uut.il the House hud time to go fully into the matter.

Sir Joseph Ward replied that the mutter was a very important one. The lion.' gentleman was aware of the fact that this was a special session, cnlle.l for a specific purpose, and that no legislation could be introduced during this session. He considered that, where the licensing laws required a vote of the people to be taken, licenses should only be taken away or restored by such a vote. The alteration of boundaries was responsible for the position that had arisen. The matter was before the Government for consideration, but no decision had as yet been arrived at. There would be ample time after the next Parliament met for Parliament itself to decide what it was necessary to do in the matter.