THE LICENSING LAWS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 2

THE LICENSING LAWS.

[Br Teleghaph.] WELLINGTON, November 13, The following are the principal suggestions submitted by the delegates of the various Licensed Victuallers* Associations for the purpose of being embodied in the Licensing Bill: —To repeal all existing Acta ; Licensing Courts to bo by the Governor not more than seven or fewer than three, to hold office for two years ; the Governor shall proclaim the licensing districts ; no brewer or dealer in alcoholic liquors or in partnership with such person shall bo qualified to be a member of the Licensing Bench ; all the present licensing courts to continue in operation till the constitution of the courts under this Act; the quorum of the licensing court to be fixed by the Governor ; any unlicensed person selling liquors to bo liable to a penalty of not less than £25 nor more than £SO. The following licenses may be granted : —Wholesale and brewers’ licenses, tee £10; packet license ; twelve o’clock, £35; all night license, £ls; wholesale and brewery license shall enable holder to sell spirituous liquors in not less than five gallons to bo consumed eff the premises. A conditional license means one applied for outside any city or borough. Packet license may ho granted to tho muster of a vessel. Wholesale and brewers', and packet license may be issued by tho Mayor or chairman of any City Council, borough or county at any time. The licensing mcetingsjio be held quarterly. Notice of application for license to be given at least twenty-one days before tho meeting. Notice of annual licensing court to be advertised three times in local paper one month before tho meeting. The licensing court (may exercise discretion in granting or refuting license. No license to be granted if opposed by two-thirds of the ratepayers in the neighbourhood, hut the court may demand security from tho petitioners, owners or others beneficially interested in house losing license to be compensated, the amount being at discretion of Court, and

paid out of tho consolidated fund and local revenue respectively. Personal attendance not necessary to procure renewal of license. All licenses, except wholesale and brewers’ and packet licenses, may be transferred. Purchasers of licensed premises may obtain a temporary transfer of license. Licenses may be transferred to other premises. The business may be carried on by the executors. In certain cases Chairman of Licensing Court may grant an extension of licenses for races, &o. A person giving false evidence before the Licensing Court to be guilty of perjury. The Governor may, if necessary, proclaim special licensing districts on the goldfields and outlying districts. Contracts made with girls to dance in places where alcoholic liquors are sold to be void. Barmaids shall not bo employed in a bar more than ten hours out of the twenty-four. Refreshment licenses at railway stations may bo granted. •Publicans need not keep a light burning outside at night, except whore no public lamp is ■kept burning in the street. Clubs to pay a registration fee of £SO per annum. They are not.to allow any liquor to be taken off the premises •under a penalty of £5 for each offence. Persons selling without a license to be fined £2O, and all liquors found on the premises to be forfeited. Any person offering for -Sale adulterated liquor to be liable to -a penalty of not less than £lO or more than £SO, tho liquor to be open to seizure, and any J.P. may order it to be analysed at the expense of the person convicted of offence. •No person holding license under this Act shall sell or allow liquor to bo drank on his premises except between the hours of six in the morning and ten at night any working day, or one p m and three on Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday; but the Commissioners may issue twelve o’clock licenses upon the payment of extra fee of £lO, and an allnight license upon the payment of a further addition to the fee of £lO. liona Jlde lodgers and travellers to be supplied with liquor at all reasonable hours.