NEW LICENSING BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1927, Page 4

NEW LICENSING BILL

FURTHER DETAILS. WELLINGTON, Nor. 9. Further details of the Licensing; Amendment Tiill show the next national licensing [toll will take place at the next general election, and, if no-lieenso were carried, it would operate front June 30. 1929. No further licensing election takes place for six years. The Bill makes more complete provision than previously for petitions for recount and scrutiny, and it is directed that licensing ballots must he on coloured pa|ier. If, after experiencing no-license, the Dominion reverts to restoration, the Mill provides machinery for the purpose and empowers licensing committees to grant licenses not exceeding one tor every complete live hundred electors ol the district and not less, (if sufficient applications are m'ade) than one license for every complete one thousand electors of the district, preference to he given to owners ol premises which were licensed prior to the operation of prohibition. ELECTORAL BOUNDARY CHANTIES.

Re-adjustment of electoral boundaries may cause licensed premises to ho included in a 110-license area. 'The liill provides that, under such circumstances, at the first licensing poll there shall he submitted for detenu illation of the electors a proposal that the licensing committee lie empowered to issue a new license, to that extent increasing the number of licenses in the area. The ballot paper will contain a proposal that the licensing committee he empowered to grant a license for premises which shall he describ'd, and the voter will have an opportunity of toting either for or against, a hare majority deciding. 'I his section also applies to former licensed premises tltit have at any time been included in a no-license area, hut to secure a poll there must he a demand by 10 per cent of the electors of the district made prior to June 29 in the year in which the licensing election usually F held. ONE PUBLIC BAR.

Every publican s license, according to the Bill, shall authorise the use of one public ear. and in the discretion of the committee a specified number of private bars, a fee, £lO. being paid for each private bar, this amount going to the public revenue. Any person who opens or uses for the* safe of liquor any bars other than those specified in the license sWdl he deemed guilty of selling liquor without a license. Licensing committees ere given wider power over improvement of hotel properties. Any new license shall not. 1)0 granted in a borough with a population of over ten thousand unless the premises contain lor public accommodation at least twenty rooms additional, to those required for the licensee and staff. Hot water services may he* insisted upon, ami the committee. in granting or renewing a license, may impose conditions requiring additions, alterations or improvements in furnishing. GENERAL. PROVISIONS. The Bill authorises the sale <>f liquor in hotels on the occasion ot public functions till 10 p.m.. ihoitgii tUio permit may not he renewed in respect to the* same organisation within six months.

Newspapers are to l.c- relieved of Hie restriction against c irc-ulating in a u*>licenso district with advertisements relating to the* sfc K* ol liquor it they are not published with intent to pro cure orders for liquor in a 110-license district.

Seven days’ notice has to he given of an application for a conditional license.

Ail obligation is imposed on holders of New Zealand wine licenses to observe order on the premises in the same way 'as if they were innkeepers. Tinnsfcr of wholesale lie-use *- 1 be subject to the same conditions as those of .applications for transfer ol publicans* license, and any inspector in a licensing district is empowerrcl t- object to a transfer .of a wholesale license or the grant of a <ondi 1 ional license.

The restriction regarding the cm--ploymcnt of women in hotels is niod:,*nd 1 i prevent the employment on 1 1 *■*• n-■ -(I premises w.’-ilr they are required to he closed, of any woman

other than the licensee or the wife, daughter, mother or sister of the licensee, or a woman bona fide employed as housekeeper of the licensee, who us unmlirried or a widower.

Tiio law controlling the illegal snip of Ii < | uni* is strengthened liy adding to the phrase “sell or expose,” the nords “or keep.” Lif|iior found mi posc-ssion of ;i licensed person lnif in n place where lie is not authorised 1,0 sell the same may he forfeited. The provisions regarding the forfeiture ol liquor under conditions where the low lias been broken are to apply to native areas proclaimed under the principal Act as well as to license and nolicense areas. A penalty of £lO is provided for persons who supply liquor to persons r 1 •’■■'pt.v-rpie. though this dees ... I m their parents, guardians or to Inna fide hotel lodgers supplied by authority of the parent. A similar penalty will he imposed on person; under twenty-one representing themselves to ho of that age. Licensees are to he held liable for '-'fault of servants, unless it he pr •••- ed that they took reasonably practical measures hv personal supervision or otherwise to prevent branches. Polynesians are to come under the restrictions which apply to natives in regard to supplying liquor in proclaimed areas.

The provisions of the Licensing Act 1911. relating to the delivery of liquoi in no-license areas are to npply to proclaimed Native areas. A clause in the 1908 Act prohibits the use of licensed premises ns a darning, concert, or theatrical snloon. hut. a sub-clause stated that this shall riot extend to prevent private societies or assemblies of persons from hiring such room or place, and keeping exclusive control over admissions. This exemption clause "ill be repealed. The register of barmaids is to he transferred to the Commissioner of Police, and the penalty for act : ng ns n ha miaul if unregistered is £lO for every day on which the offence is committed.

Hotelkeepers are required to keep a register of lodgers, easily accessible to the inspector. Persons who supply ineorreet information for this register -are liable to a fine of £lO-

different vif.ws. WELLINGTON. Nov. 9. The Dominion Executive of the Licensing Reform Association, resolved this morning: “That the Association expresses its amazement nt the iniquitous proposal contained in the Licensing Bill for the deletion of the State Control issue, and representing a large and rapidly growing body of thought in the Dominion, and on behalf of the moderate electors, calls on Parliament to resist this violation of the principle of democracy: (2) that the Association expresses its regret that the proposal of corporate control lias found no place in the Licensing Amendment Bill, and respectfully urges its inclusion by wav of amendment to the Bill, as providing a sound and practical method of controlling the licensing system in the interests of true temperance.” WELLINGTON. Nov. 9. The Standing Committee of the New

| Zealand Alliance issues a statement in which approval is expressed of the Premier’s assurance that Parliament will lie left to thrash the matter out. It is disappointed that the provision of a two-issue ballot paper is stultified by the provision of fifty-five per cent, majority to carry prohibition. With reference to the six-year poll, the Alliance always strenuously opposed any extension of time between the polls. Details of the proposal in regard to a national restoration poll is receiving careful jeonskleratian. The Alliance opposes the proposal to extend hours permissive for the sale* of liquor in dining rooms of hotels, until ten at night; also of any removal of control from Licensing Committees to the Police.