LICENSING LAWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2535, 9 August 1915, Page 7

LICENSING LAWS

COMPREHENSIVE REFQRM NEEDED MODERATE LEAGUE'S REQUESTS THE TIME INOPPORTUNE Suggestions for amendments of our liquor laws were made to tfio Prime Minister on Saturday by a deputation representing branches of .the Moderate .iLeague in all parts of New Zealand. ' The Hon. A. L. Herdman, member for . North, introduced the deputation. Mr. 'Alex. Boyle, president of the Canterbury branch, put forward tho main •proposals of the league. He explained, ■ ihowever, that the league fully, recognised that the wholo attention of the Government was now claimed by matters arising put of the war,; and it -was not, .therefore, an opportune time to press for domestic legislation dealing with a most difficult problem. * The choice'of a fitting opportunity to introduce such •legislation must be left to the good judgment of the Government. Abovo all, ho 'urged that they should bo careful to avoid anything in the naturo of panic ■'legislation.-, The; main proposal of the •'league was that a Royal' Commission, to 1 bo composed of competent business men and professional l men who were absolutely -unbiased, should be set up. to inquire' into the following matters:—(l) . The efficiency of the present Now Zealand Licensing Act- (2) the liquor laws of other countries; (3) the conduct of 'licensed houses and the Trade gener- - 'ally in New Zealand; (4) the. systems of I State control, municipal control, and (public liquor trusts. Such a commission, he urged, would prove pfv untold value to the country, as, in addition to .taking evidence, it would collect a great 'deal of'valuable.information from other countries which no private investigator could obtain. It was of the greatest importance, however, that the members of the. commission should be absolutely ■ unbiased. It would be futile to have it composed of representatives of tho extremist parties, as such would merely xesult in two opposite reports being presented. Every encouragement should .be given to all • sections to give relevant • evidence before the commission, but if any good was to be achieved, it would only be by tho selecting of men whose first quality was absolute • impartiality, and whose endeavour, would bo .to approach the_ subject entirely from the •point of view of regulating the liquor "trade in . the public, interest. The question of prohibition should not enter at all into tho deliberations of such a commission, nor should 1 any evidence prei sented in advocacy of prohibition be adkmitted. !' Abolition of Committees. ; It was also the intention of tho league i'to advocate that the. present system of {Licensing.; Committees [be discontinued, ;and, : that .there be set up a special [.Government ■ Department, controlling I such district boards as might be necessary, to supervise tli© manufacture and sale, of alcoholic liquors, and the ad-l-ministration of the law relating to these [matters, The administration, of such Jiaws should not-be left to the police; (.there should be direct supervision by .'experts over-the manufacture and sale ?of liquor. In view of the fact that the Annual revenue derived ,by the Government,from liquor was nearly a million .sterling, the obstacle of cost 'should not (prevent.the setting up of a new Department. The alteration was necessary in ,the public[ interest,''as the appointment tof committee's by tho present elective /system left the local administration of f the law, at any rate ' so far as the of licenses is concerned, open V'io abuse, . just in accordance with' the strength of party influence on ,the' Mmmittees: The District Boards jto be set up should have power to investigate all' matters relating to the 'granting of licenses—the fitness of the .'applicant, _the terms under which the / applicant is to occupy licensed prel.mises, viz., rent,'payment for goodwill, -.payment for furniture,and fittings, and stock-in-trade. Furthermore, a board should hare full knowledge of all restrictions to be imposed directly or indirectly by any interested party, with (light to refuse to grant any license if I satisfied-that the terms and/conditions' tof entry or renewal were prejudical to ; the proper fulfilment of the law. This 'proposal, if carried into effect, would ; do away in great measure with the '.present "tied-house"- evils. : Concerning Adulteration of Liquors. ! -The league advocated the'estahlish- .' went by tho Government of a standard , basis of'qiidity for all liquors' imported and manufactured in bond or otherwise, and the subsequent examination of theso liquors in both wholesale' and retail liouses under a systematic scheme. This -could be put in force at once, though it might ,en,tail . the employment , of special inspectors. Probably very few Siotelkeepers would actually " adulterate liquor, but it was generally believed •that 1 many followed' the practice of refilling bottles,,, Bearing well-known trader .marks, with cheaper liquors. The depui tatioh were also inclined to the 'belief 'that regulations could be immediately ■gazetted providing that sales of .liquor for consumption off premises be restricted to bottle stores, such bottlo stores to be'- closed earlier' than the bars, and .that 1 every vessel containing liquor sold for consumption off the premises should 'bear- the stamp of the vendor. This 'regulation of the 6alo of liquor for consumption off the premises would, it was contended, reduce excessive indulgence in alcohol. These bottle stores might closo at 8 o'clock. This would not take 'away from the comfort of the decent citizens wishing to take home a bottle ; of liquor, but would prevent the carrying' on of carousals late into the night by irresponsible persons who, having fmada merry-until JO o'clook, filled their .pockets with bottles then, and drank ■,the liquor in the streets or elsewhere. 'The 'league asked that tho penalties • •for allowing drunkenness on premises, "iand for illegal trading and all abuses of license bo made heavier, and bo ' more strictly' enforced. t The L'ocal Option Issue. Mr. T. B. Slipper (Waugauui) put forward the proposal that the local 'No-License issue be removed from the licensing ballot papers at the triennial poll. Local No-Licenso, he said, had ■proved to be a failure in districts whero it had. been tried. Another resolution of the League Conference was as follows: —"That in view of the present insecurity.,of tenure of licenses leading to | abuses caused by the consequent need 'for making profits rapidly, and in view of the groat political disturbance caused by the present frequency of licensing : polls, this conference is of the opinion • that the licensing elections should bo j held .once in every isix years." i Mr. A. L. D. Eraser (Hawltc's Bay) exi pressed, on behalf of the league, strong disapproval of the present practico of ; pledging Parliamentary candidates • to somo attitude on tho liquor question, and the endeavour of factionists to decide' elections on the license issues. Ho 'suggested that all parties might lay I'down a rule that nono of their candij'dates should give any pledge on the lijcensing question-. He protested against jthe reduction _ of the majority required Tfor the carrying of any licensing projposal from 60 to 55 per. cent. . He also protested against tho omission from /jthe. law: of any, practicable method by.

which licenses may be taken from decadent mining towns, where thcro are too many, and given to rising towns. MR. MASBEY IN REPLY. A BAD TIME FOR LIQUOR LEGISLATION. Tho Prime Minister, replying, said ho thought it would bo understood that he was not an extremist on the liquor question, but he was extremely anxious to see tho Now Zealand people a sober people now and for all time. Ho agreed heartily with somo of the opinions expressed. He knew that our system of liquor control was not perfect, and no doubt the law would bo tho better for amendment. He was gradually being forced to the conclusion that the mixing up of the liquor question with the politics of the country at election time was having a detrimental effect on politics, but he was not able to make any suggestions as to how this difficulty might be solved. It was quito evident from tho speeches delivered that members of the Moderate League had given this quostion a great deal of thought, and he felt bound to say that some of the suggestions put forward seemed to him„to bo valuable. What the deputation asked for was a comprehensive liquor Bill wiping out the existing statutes on the subject, and starting afresh. Ho could, not encourage the hope that there would bo any such licensing legislation during the present session, lor the present all' tho energies of Parliament must be given to measures necessary for the carrying on of the great war. One of the. other proposals was that a Commission should be set up. Whilo he ■ admitted that a commission would obtain a great deal of very valuable information, and present a very valuable report, his own opinion was that! any.., attempt at anything of tho kind now "by a Royal Commission would strike a discordant note. IHo approved of the suggestion, that the law providing for the regular and systematic inspection of liquors sold should be put into effect. He knew that the law m this respect had been practically a dead letter, and he .did not see why it should be. :Ho would convey their representations on tho point to the new Minister of Justice. He did not propose to commit the'new ■ Government in any way. He' would have pleasure in submitting their representations to his colleagues. He would subniit them in as unbiased a manner as ho could, and he would ,bo perfectly satisfied to abide by their decision. , Mr. A. A. S.' Menteath, president of the league, thanked Mr. Massey for having received the deputation, and congratulated him on the formation of a National Government.