The Fielding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1893. THE LIQUOR SALE CONTROL ACT.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 135, 7 December 1893, Page 2

The Fielding Star. Published Daily. THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1893. THE LIQUOR SALE CONTROL ACT.

_♦ We find that we were under a misapprehension as to tke date on which the above Act came into force. iN T ot unnaturally we supposed March in next year to be the time, but as a case baa already been brought before the Resident Magistrate iv Wellington under the Act, and a conviction obtained, but which, under the circumstances, was not recorded, our conjecture was evidently wrong. We were not alone, however, in this because, as counsel stated in Court, the impression was general on the subject. The case in question was laid under sub* section 8 of Clause 12 of the Act, which amends section 166 of the Licensing Act, 1881, by adding the following words: "No intoxicating hquorß Bball be Bold or supplied, or allowed to be sold or supplied, to any person apparently under thirteen years of age, for consumption off the premises, under a penalty for every such offence of a sum not exceeding five pounds." Clause 13 provides that "No person against whom a prohibition order has been made under section 167 of the Licensing Act, 1881, shall, during the currency of such prohibition order purchase or procure any fermented or spirituous liquors from any licensed person within any district in which such prohibition order is in force. Any person committing a breach of this section shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, or in default thereof to be imprisoned with hard labor for a teim not exceeding three monthß." This is a very excellent protection to holders of licenses, who have hitherto been at the mercy of prohibited persons, because the latter were not always personally known to either hotel-keepers or their servants, and made the latter, who supplied them with drink, not knowing they were under the ban of the Licensing Laws, commit an offence which subjected them to heavy penalties, while the principal offenders escaped. Now they have to submit to their share of the punishment— when found out— which appoara to be only just and equable.