THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1638, 4 November 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1873.

It would serve to save and concentrate labor if, at the close of each Parliamentary session, some Samaritan were to print in brief, popular, style the contents of the measures which our legislators are so long and lavish iv passing. As a mere printingoffice speculation it might not be unprofitable. In. the office of every newspaper, lawyer, and business-man a subscriber should be found, and it would obviate the imposition of a widely diffused amount of trouble on the part', of writers for the Press, and the infliction of much that is not always acceptable to the general reader. From the usual bundle of Bills which burden.. the table we have already selected a few which, for local or other considerations, seem worthy of being summarised, but in, such columns as these this can only be done imperfectly, and the subjects may even then be of doubtful interest.. The last from which quotation was made was the Native Reserves Act. Another not less affecting certain sections of the community is the Licensing Act of which Mr Fox was the promoter, and of which he has published a resume* representing more the principles of the Bill introduced than the details of the Act as passed. Some portions of Mr Fox's statement we have already published, but for the guidance of the public generally, and of publicans in particular, both being indifferently informed on the subject, it is proper that some of the inferior features should be published.

The Act which is now made applicable to the Colony as a whole, with such other Acts as may be passed by Provincial Councils, "for the regulation of the sale of intoxicating liquors," consists of thirty-two clauses, and will be practically put in force in the month of March next. It provides primarily that the Governor shall define territorial divisions or districts, the same to be, wherever practicable and convenient, identical with existing Municipal wards, Road Board districts, or school districts. Licenses are thus designated : — Wholesale .license, publican's license, bottle license, and packet • license. The first may be issued by the Provincial Treasurer of any Province, or other person appointed by the Governor. Appliaations for publican's licenses' must be made before the first Tuesday in the month of March in every year, and, must be accompanied by a certificate signed by at least ten householders stating that the applicant is "of good fame and reputation, and fit and proper to be licensed to keep an inn or public house for the sale of alcoholic liquors therein.".- On the third Tuesday in April ['the .annual Licensing Courts will be held, and all such applications, considered. Such Courts will consist of not more than seven or less :> than three persons, and will be constituted in the following manner :— The Resident Magistrate or Chairman of Petty Sessions having jurisdiction within . any district iproclaimed under Clause 3,, and any other persons to be nominated as' Commissioners for the purpose by his Excellency ; the. Governor. Every member of such' Licensing Conrt Bhall hold office for -two iyears v Vacancies occurring in the interval by death, bankruptcy, or becoming otherwise disqualified to sit. on such Court, shall be filled up by the Governor, such nominated member to hold office only till the expiry of the current period. The Clerk to the : Resident Mai gistrate of the district shall, as a rule, act as_ Clerk to the Coiiict, and at every meeting 6f< the 'Court the Resident Magistrate or Chairman of, Petty Sessions, if present, ,, shall, be l'Chairitian thereof, and the Chairman' of every such Licensing Court shall have an original and casting

vote, and shall sign on behalf ,6f the Court all certificates and other doclui|nents, if any, be issued and recorded by it. No person shall be qualified to sit as a member of such Board who is a brewer, wine and spirit merchant, maltster, distiller, importer, or dealer in alcoholic liquors, or the owner in fee of any less estate of any licensed house, or mortgagee of such building. So much for the constitution of the Boards, the licenses which they may grant, and the times and seasons at which they shall do so. The clauses more intimately concerning applicants for licenses, in matters other than the date of application, are these :— " The Licensing Court shall exercise such discretion in granting or refusing any certificate for any description of license,, and shall not be obliged to grant the same merely because the requirements of the law a3 to accommodation or personal fitness of the applicant are fulfilled, unless in its opinion there is a necessity tor bhe publie-hou9B or other establishment for the sale of spirituous liquors for which application is made. No certificate shall be granted if a memorial against the granting of the same, signed by at least two-thirds of the adult residents in the district, be presented to the Court. The genuineness of such signature to be verified on oath before the Court by the person or persons in whose presence the same may have been written. Power is also given to any householder to appear in person at the Annual Licensing Court and state his or objections to the renewal of any license, after having given seven days' notice of his intention to do so, and at each Court it shall be the duty of the principal officer of police, and any other police officers within the district, to be present, and report to the Court on the conduct of every licensed house within the district for which a renewal of license is desired, and upon the accommodation provided in such houses and in any houses for which a new license is desired." With regard to fees for licenses, it is still discretionary with Provincial Councils to fix the amounts, and incumbent upon Provincial officers to issue licenses, provided the- fees are paid prior to the 30fch of Juue succeeding the granting of the license ; tte periods of application and granting, be it remembered, being respectively the first Tuesday in March and the third Tuesday in April— the Court being distinctively an Annual Licensing Court.