THE LICENSING BILL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1166, 24 June 1880, Page 3

THE LICENSING BILL.

The following pertinent remarks on the new Licensing Bill, introduced in the Souse of Representatives by the Hon. Mr Dick, we find reported in Hansard as made by Mr Seddon, M.H.R., when speaking on this subject: While agreeing with the mover of -'the Bill, and giving him credit for the mapner in which he has introduced it, there are some principles in the measure with which I disagree. The first thing I disagree with is the manner in which the publicans are intended to be treated. While all possible restrictions are imposed on publicans, there is no protection given to them as against those ’ Who are outside the palo of law—those ' ' ~ whb' are engaged- in illicit grog-selling. '■’T -thitkr the 1 Government should have ,<nj«fe ft for seeing 'that those Who ctirry On sly'grog-selling are

properly- looked after. In a district with which I am acquainted, containing 1,000 miners, and a total population of 3,000, it has been reported that there are sev'enty-five sly grog-shops. The police have been asked several times to deal with the question, but they answer that they are placed in such a position that they cannot cope with the evil. The law is in such a state that, when convictions have taken place, they have been quashed on the cases being brought before a Judge. Such a state of things should not be allowed to continue. Provision is made that a person, on conviction, shall pay a penalty of £SO, or undergo a month’s imprisonment. Now, in the Justices of the Peace Act, where a month’s imprisonment is provided, the line is only £5. I do not see how the two provisions run together. Part her, no provision is made for the right of entry into private houses, wherein it is suspected that sly grog is sold. We should also make it incumbent upon licensees whether wholesale or publican—to give information respecting unlicensed persons to whom they may sell grog. Revenue officers should be employed, so that when cases are brought into Court the law can be carried out. * * Another principle with which I disagree is the granting of licenses to unmarried women. I hope this House will say that no unmarried woman shall be the holder of a publican’s license. When gold was discovered in the district I have the honor to represent, Mr Warden Price, who was the licensing officer, carried out the principle that no single woman should have a license. On gold fields, especially, there is a strong objection to licenses being granted to unmarried women. The reason is that it is morally an impossibility for a single single woman to exercise the supervision which you say must be exercised under the intended law. There is no hardship in refusing to grant a license to a single woman, because she can very easily remedy the' effect by getting married. Exception might be made in the case of widows; * % * In no place more than the gold fields can the evils of the bottle license be seen. There, where men often cannot exercise such supervision over their family matters, you see the evils which have been deferred to by the Colonial Secretary. Women, to whom the publicans will not sell liquor, get it from their grocers who have bottle licenses, and it is charged for along with their groceries under another name. People engaged in illicit grOgselling also get their supplies from the same source. I think we are perfectly justified in doing away with bottle licenses. We are granting wholesale licenses, under which tho minimum quantity to be sold is two gallons ; and I do not think it will be any great hardship for a man to get a case of liquor instead of a bottle at the .time. I do not think it is a proper thing for the head of a family to send oitt for a bottle. I should not think of doihg so, and I do not think any member of this House, or any person in a fair position, would think of doing so. I agree that, the fee for a wholesale license should be increased. No doubt the doing away with bottle licenses will tend to induce those who formerly got their supplies from bottle-license holders to go to the wholesale licensee, who will therefore be in a position to pay a higher fee. I hope the House will not say that, because the Bill is so voluminous, we will not be able to pass it this session. If we pass this Bill, I think we shall do very well. If we do not pass it, we shall have shirked a very grave responsibility.