The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1480, 25 June 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1881.

A considerable amount of surprise, and it may also he said of indignation, has been felt and expressed at the excessive charges which have recently been made in the stamp duties in connection with the applications for renewals and transfers of publicans’ licenses. As the alterations in the fees do not seem to be clearly understood, it may be well to offer some explanation in regard to the matter. In the Licensing Act of 18 7 4, the 37th section declares that “ The fees of the Court mentioned in the schedule hereto, or such other fees as the Governor in Council shall from time to time prescribe, shall and may be taken from

every pet son making any application for n license, or a renewal, or transfer, or removal thereof.” The Act then goes on to state in what manner the money is to he paid, and to whom. On turning over to the schedule referred to, we find that the first charges made, were as follow : —On filing notice of intention to apply for a license where no license has been previously issued, 2s 6d; on tiling notice of application for renewal, transfer, or removal of a license, Is 6d ; on the grant of a certificate for a license where no license has previously issued, ss, These charges were in force until the month of November, 1878, when an Order in Council was issued, under which the following alterations were made —On filing notice of intention to apply for a license where no license has been previously issued, 3s; on filing notice or application for renewal, transfer or removal of license, 2s. At the same time it was determined that the fee on the grant of a certificate of renewal or transfer should be charged from 2s 6d to 3s. Again, a new Order in Council appeared in the Gazette, in June 1880, to take effect ou August Ist in which we find that the following scale is to be charged :—On filing notice of intention to apply for a license where no license has been previously issued, 10s j on filing notice of application for renewal, transfer, or removal of a license, 8s; on the grant of a certificate for a license where no license has been previously issued, 10s. We also find that for the grant of a certificate of renewal or transfer, the fee is raised from 3s to ss. Thus it will be seen that the amount charged in fees has been steadily increasing under successive Governments, until at length they reach the absurd figures just quoted. It is satisfactory to know that in the Licensing Bill which is now passing through the House of -Representatives, it is proposed, in the tenth schedule, to return to the fees originally charged in the Act of 1874. It remains to be seen if the House will agtee to the proposal.