LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2535, 24 May 1882, Page 3

LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

A special general meeting was held last Tuesday evening, in the City Hotel, to discuss the new Licensing Act. Present—Mr R. Richardson (president), and eight and twenty members, The President stated there was a difficulty in suggesting alterations, as if sweeping reforms were put forward, the Act would need to be repealed. The utmost fairly to be expected was to have modifications passed. The opponents of the association would urge that a fair trial ehonld be given to the Act. Its repeal might lead to one even less workable and possibly more stringent. Touching clause 154 he thought nearly every member in Canterbury would be content with 11 o’clock licenses. [Hear, hear.] Bottle licenses should be expunged. On Mr Collier’s motion the clauses were discussed seriatim.

Mr Ed. Oookson thought the readiest way to settle the question of Sunday trading and serving after eleven o’clock was simply for members to combine and refuse to serve even boarders’ friends. The public would soon agitate for a change. [Applause.) Several members expressed their willingness to sign bonds binding them to the effect proposed. Mr Oookson added that for transgression a heavy penalty should be imposed over that inflicted by the police. It was resolved that the following suggested alterations be sent to every Licensed Victuallers’ Association in the colony, and to every member of Parliament : —" (a) Clause 11—That licensing committees be nominated by Government, instead of being elected by ratepayers ; also that the districts embraced by committees be enlarged, one or two members urging that there might be one committee for Christchurch and suburbs, (b) Clause 29—That sub-sections 2 and 4 mentioning New Zealand wine and bottle licenses be expunged, (o) Clause 30—That a publican’s license should authorise selling from 6 a.m. till 11 p.m,; clause 154 to be altered accordingly, (d) clause 205—That this be expunged, the matters to bo left to the Licensing Bench. It was pointed out that this olause rendered it compulsory that forfeiture of license should result from two convictions within six months, (e) clause 44, sub-section 14—To read that the decision of the committee when once announcced by the chairman, “ may be recorded.” Clause 207, sub-sections 2 and 3—That these, dealing with disqualification of premises, be expunged. Failing this, that the word “person” be substituted for “ premises.” It was resolved—“ That the oommittes insert in their proposed alterations a suggestion by circular to all members of Parliament to have a clause inserted in the Act allowing hotels to open from one to three on Sunday afternoon.” Mr Uookson alluded to a tost case instituted by the police against him, on an occasion of four of his boarders playing billiards after eleven o’clock. The case had been dismissed, but it was the opinion of Mr Beetham, R M., and several legal gentlemen, that a licensee by allowing this clearly rendered himself liable to a fine of not less than £lO, and to an endorsement of license. It was decided to endeavor to obviate this by making boarders and lodgers exempt from olause 155,

Mr Knowsley's suggestion, that hotelkeepers not desiring to practice Sunday trading should be called on to pay for their license only six-sevenths of tne amount exacted from thoso.eleoting to so trade, was held over for the consideration of a full meeting, a number of members having loft at this stage.