THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1958, 3 June 1880, Page 2

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

[By Telegraph.] [iKOB OtTB OWS CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 2, The corrected copy of the new Licensing Bill was not circulated till to day. The main feature is, as I telegraphed a fortnight ago, the application of the local option principle to ne w licenses only and not to those already in force, so that no compensation clausa is necessary. The rest of the Bill consists chiefly of machinery. It is a bulky document of fifty-four pages and 223 clauses. It repeals the existing Acts and abolishes the present licensing districts. New districts are to be proclaimed by the Governor, the boundaries to be as far as possible co-ter. minous with those of boroughs, wards, ridings, or road districts, as most convenient. New or special districts may

be proclaimed where and when necessary. A “Licensing Committee” is to be constituted for each district, comprising the Resident Magistrate of the district and four persons appointed from time to time by the Governor. The usual provisions are made for elections and filling up vacancies. All persons interested in the manufacture or sale of liquors, or in licensed premises, and all paid officers of the General or Local Government, are disqualified from being members of the Committee. Members of the Committee hold office for two years, but may be re appointed, two to form a quorum. Present licenses to be subject to the Act which will apply equally to all districts. No bottle licenses are to bo granted in future, existing bottle licenses to continue in force until June 3(3th, 1881, and then cease absolutely. Unmarried women may hold licenses, but constables and bailiffs may not. The Minister for Public W orks may license railway stations and refreshment rooms. Brewers and spirit merchants must take out wholesale licenses. No person is to hold more than one of the seven different classes of licenses provided, viz., (1) publicans, (2) family hotel, (3) billiard (able, (4) conditional, (5) packet, (6) club, and (7) wholesale. Number 1 authorises the sale of liquor from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; number 2 the sale to hona fide residents of hotels ; (3) keeping billiard tables to be used between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. This, however, is included in publicans’ licenses. Number 4 provides for booths at races, regattas, matches, &o.; number 5 for coasting vessels at sea; number 6 for hona fide clubs ; number 7 for the sale of liquor in quantities of two gallons or more. MidnighfJiconses may be granted on the payment of £lO extra, and additional bars at the rate of one-third extra of the fee. Each family hotel to be licensed must contain at least ten rooms, and public houses in addition must have stabling. A quarterly licensing meeting is to be held in March, June, September, and December, a month’s public notice being given. All applications to be heard in open Court, and the hearing may be adjourned. The inspector of licensed premises in every district is to furnish a report on each licensed house ten days before eacb'moeting, and also one on every uew application, transfer, &c., at 1 the licensing meeting. Applications for old 1 houses are to be reported on next, and re- '

newals, &0., afterwards, unless tho latter are objected to, in which case they come second. Duo notice of objections is to be given to the applicants. No house is to be licensed if any part is fitted up as a retail store, theatre, concert room or dancing room. The committee are to determine cases on “ such evidence as shall seem to them sufficient, whether strictly legal evidence or not.” The committee are to decide by a majority ; their decision to be announced by the chairman alone, who is to have a casting vote, and no decision once announced is to be questioned or reconsidered, Publicans’ licenses for now houses are to be subject to the vote of the ratepayers or electors of the district, the sole question to be submitted to their vote being “ ttie proposal that the number of publicans licenses in the district may be increased,” and the majority of votes to be decisive it in the negative ; but if affirmative, this will not oblige the committee to issue new licences. Objections to the granting or renewal of licences may be made by a memorial of persons of over 18 years of age, by the police, by corporate bodies or others, and the licensing committee may takecognisance of such objections, and may award costs against either

objector or applicant; and the application, if refused, may be renewed at the next annual meeting, unless refused on the ground of personal unfitness, when three years must elapse. The usual provisions are made for enforcing the payment of licence foes, renewals, transfers, removals, &o. Packet, club, conditional and wholesale licenses may be granted at any time by the licensing magistrate or any two members of the committee. The granting of any licenses to be entirely at discretion of committee, and at any quarterly meeting a license may be cancelled if the bouse is improperly kept. The annual fees proposed are —Publicans’ licenses, £4O in borough: £3O outside; family hotel, £2O; billiard table, £10; conditional licenses at discretion not to exceed £3O ; packet licenses, £10; club, £2O; wholesale, £lO. The fees are to go to the Borough, County, or Boad Board funds. Begisters of licenses and applications are to be kept, and the customary provisions are made as to the conduct and management of houses. No post or rate office is to be kept at a licensed house, and no liquor to be sold on credit. The penalty for permitting drunkenness on the premises, or selling

liquor to a drunken person, is £2O for the first offence and £SO for subsequent offences. For keeping a disorderly house, harboring or bribing constables, or supplying them with liquor, permitting gaming or unlawful sports, &0., the first penalty is £lO and subsequent £2O. Licensed houses are to be closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, and Q-ood Friday. All convictions of licensees for offences to be recorded on their licenses. There are ordinary provisions as to bona fide travellers and lodgers. The maximum penalties for sly grog selling are £SO or one [month’s imprisonment for the first offence, £IOO or three months’ imprisonment and five years’ disqualification for the second. No actual communication between licensed houses and places of public amusement is permitted. No liquor is to be supplied to persons under twelve years of ago, or to habitual drunkards. The inspectors of licensed premises are to be appointed with power of entry and search. The sale of adulterated liquors is made an offence involving forfeiture of licence, and publication of the conviction. Promises may bo disqualified on account of offences committed therein, or may be closed in case of lot.