THE BILL AS AMENDED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 December 1927, Page 6

THE BILL AS AMENDED

OFFICIAL SUMMARY. THE BAKE MAJORITY. Wellington, Nov. 30. Tho following official summary of the Licensing Bill as amended in committee has been supplied:— /Clause 2.—The proposal that licens ing polls bo taken only with every alaturaatd general election of members of Parliament has been deleted from the bill. Cfiiuses 3 and 4—These clauses provide for,the submission of two issues only—namely, national prohibition and national continuance, at licensing polls to be hereafter taken, as amended by the House. A bare majority will be sufficient tb carry the proposal of national prohibition. Clause 5.—As introduced. This clause provided that in the event of national prohibition being carried a poll should be taken simultaneously with the next general election on the proposal to restore licenses. If at such poll the proposal to restore licenses was not carried no further polls could bo taken without further legislative action. This clause was amended in committee to provide that at every general election a poll shall be taken on the proposal to restore licenses, or on the proposal of national prohibition (as the circumstance* for the time being require). By further amendment it was provided that a bare majority would be sufficient in any case to carry a proposal. It was further provided in committee that in the? event of national prohibition being carried at one poll and national restoration being carried at the next succeeding poll, the following special provision should apply; (1) No licenses should in anv case bo granted in n former no-liconse district; (2) the number of licenses in any licensing district or in any borough within tho licensing district as existing at the time when national prohibition was carried should not be exceeded in the event of national prohibition being carried at any poll and national restoration being carried at a subsequent poll other than the, first poll. The bill as amended in committee Authorises licensing committees to grant publicans’ licenses as follows: The maximum number of such licenses to be granted in any licensing district must not. exceed one for every 500 electors in the district; (2) the licensing committee, however may limit the number of licenses to be granted so that the number shall not exceed nne for every 1500 electors of the district. NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS. A new clause was added to tho oill with special reference to the position in present no-liense districts, to the •following effect:—(l) In the event of national prohibition being carried a poll is to bo taken in each no-license district on the proposal to restore licenses in that district simultaneously with the poll on the proposal for national restoration; (2) if the proposal to lestoro licenses is carried in a no-liccnse district, but determination in the national poll is in favour of the continuance of national prohibition the poll in the nd-iicenso district to be of no effect; (3 if, however, the result of tho poll in a no license

district is against tho proposal to re store licenses, that determination is to be effective, notwithstanding that the result of the Dominion poll may be to restore licenses. This special provision is limited to one poll only, the reason being that after national prohibition has been in force for more than one Parliament the identity ol new electoral districts with the present no-license districts could not, without great difficulty bo established. (Hauses 16, 17 and IR, providing for improved accommodation in licensed premises, were omitted on the motion of the Rt. Hon. the Primo Minister, the reason being that with the reduced tenure it was not reasonable to impose on licensees the serious financial responsibility of carrying out extensive alterations or improvements in licensed promises. The Prime Minister further agreed to have clause 17 (relating to the provision of hot water services in public bars and the provision of sufficient sanitary and other accommodation) reconsidered w’ith a view to its being dealt with in “another place. ° Clause 24.—This clause as drafted had reference to the publication of liquor advertisements in newspapers published or circulated in no-license districts. The clause provided that such advertisements were not unlawful unless their object was to procure orders for liquor within a no-license district. Tho clause was amended in committee to confer a smtllar nenef.c on newspapers published or circulating in areas proclaimed under section 272 of the Licensing Act, 1908 (King Country). Clause 28.—As introduced this clause prohibited, save in exceptional cases, the supply nf liquor to persons under the age of 21 years. Except l were in favour of a parent or guardian. Tho clause was amended in committee to enable a host to supply liquor to his guests in his own home or in promises to which for the time being he may be entitled to exclusive possession. Clause 33: Bv “The Sale of Liquor Restriction Act,” intoxicating liquor may be sold as part of a substantial evening meal between the hours of 6 and 8 o’clock in the dining-room of an hotel or chartered club. As introduced the bill proposed to allow these hours to be extended until 10 o’clock in the case of an hotel on occasions when an association or society of persons was holding a banquet or other like function. fn committee this provision was extended so as to apply to chartered clubs as well as to hotels. No such exteu'Jon can be granted except by permission of a superintendent of police authorised to grant extensions by the Commissioner. Clause 34: This clause made provision for the transfer of registration of barmaids from the Department of Labour to the Commissioner of Police. The clause was deleted from the bill in committee.