New Licensing Bill.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 49, 23 August 1894, Page 2

New Licensing Bill.

FURTHER PROPOSALS. The Bill provides that the licensing polls shall be taken on the day of every general election, add in the same manner, but the voting-paper is less cumbrous than that of the last election. The voting papers are to be differin colour from the general election ballot-papers, and are to be sent after tho poll to the clerk of the nearest Magistrate's Court. Special poll-clerks are to atteud to the polls. If one-fourth of tho total uumberof electors on the roll do not vote the poll shall be void. At present the proportion is one- half. As at present, a bare majority of the votes polled shall carry the reduction of licenses ; and three- fifths of the votes polled shall be necessary to carry prohibition in any district. When, after prohibition, the decision in that respect is reversed, the committee may grant licenses to the extent only of three fourths of the number of licenses existing previous to prohibition. The return of the licensing polls is to bo sent to the Minister for Justice, who, if he fiuds that three* fifths of all the votes polled in the Colony are for prohibition, in favor of no licenses, then prohibition throughout the Colony shall be deemed affirmed, and tho Miuiater is to gazette such result, which shall not take effect, however, for one year at least after the poll. The Bill provides that clubs may sell liquor only during the hours wheu licensed houses may sell. Clubs shall be subject to inspection. There shall be no compensation foT non-renewal of licenses. In case of licenses for a populationincrease in any locality, the increase enabling a license to be granted shall be 10 per cent instead of 25 per cent. A local authority losing its revenue by prohibition may meet the deficit by an increase of general rates. Conditional licenses, for races, &c , may be granted by four members of a committee. Travellers must come from five miles away, instead of three. Twenty electors may demand an enquiry regnrding a disputed poll. The right of reuewal of a publican's license for three years is retained. The exemption under the old Act io favour of private clubs meeting at hotels is abolished. Selling adulterated liquor is an offence under the Bill, liable to punish uient by fine and endorsement. A license shall have only one bar. There shall be no post office at a publichouse. Wholesale licenses may be granted to auctioneers. Authority is given to an owner to evict a teuant guilty of an offence which may entail los 3of the license.