THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 133, 29 June 1880, Page 3

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

To Tim Editor. Sir, —The Licensing Bill introduced by the Government to which you referred in your last issue, deals with a subject of the greatest public int rest and ought to receive c me attent' i from the public, who would be wise if .hey would use every legitimate means to aid the passing of this measure in its best attainable form. No one can read the Bill without perceiving that on the ..hole it will be an immense improvement on the system, or rather no system, which prevails at present regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors. It appears to me however, that one or two alterations should, if possible, be obtained in Committee. Clubs ought, upon the whole, to be placed upon the same footing as public-houses. There are, of course, a few sections of the Bill, such as that which requires licensees to provide accommodation for the public, which could not be made applicable to Clubs, but there is no reason why Clubs should be exempted entirely from the operation of the larger I half of the Bill, namely, from sections 100 to 225 inclusive. The proposal to give the Minister of Public Works power to grant licenses for the sale of liquor at railway stations is also an objectionable one. Besides tending to increase drunkenness among the passengers, to the annoyance of their fellow travellers, it would have a demoralising effect upon the railway servants, and thus interfere more or less with the efficiency, the economy, and the safety required in the conduct of that department of the public service, In regard to new licenses, section 45, sub-section 7, requires that plans of the house shall he produced to the Licensing Committee. The sub-section evidently proceeds upon the supposition that the house is already built. It would be a great improvement if the clause v/ere so modified, or added to, as to render it at least possible for one to apply for a license first, depositing plans, and having the license granted on condition that the buildings be erected in strict accordance with the plaus, or embody ing such alterations as the Licensing Committee may require. At present, in case of an application for a new license, the house must be built first, and even those most opposed to the driuk traffic feelit to be a very delicate tiling, to say the least of it, to have to oppose the granting of a license to a man who has already invested a large sum of money in a building which will be comparatively a non-paying speculation if the license is not granted. The present arrangement also operates so as virtually to settle the granting of a new license before the Bench sits at all. A man intending to build a house goes round and sounds the members of the Li-

censing Bench as to the likelihood or otherwise of his obtaining a license. Ido not blame him for doing so ; lie would be a fool if he did not. But the effect is that members of the Bench, if not actually pledged, are committed to some extent to the granting of tiie license. If parties were allowed to apply for the license first, depositing plans, the Licensing Court would then provide an arena on which all partios would have a fair field. This, under the present arrangement, it does not do. A few alterations such as these, would greatly improve the Bill, hut even as it is, it is a good one, and the friends of temperance and sobriety would do well to give it all the suppoit in their power. Apologising for trespassing so much on your space,—l am, &c., Omega.

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT. To THE Editor. Sir, —-1 saw in your sub-leader of tlic 22nd inst the following incorrect statement about myself. It is said I offered to do the work for L 250 ; this I deny. I never asked for or tendered so large an amount. Secondly, that I did not reply to the Commissioners telegrams. I replied to all his telegrams. Thirdly, the statement that I declined to reduce the amount of my offer is not correct, as on the Depty Commissioner explaining the nature of the duties, and that they would be curtailed, I called at bis office on the morning of the 7th inst, as agreed on, with the intention of reducing my offer, but finding him engaged, I went away, and on my return between 11 and 12 o’clock I was fold Mr Griffiths had got an appointment. I never refused to do the work, and did not voluntarily vacate the office. Aswewere instructed at that time the assessments had to he competed by the 3rd of J iqy, I asked the Depty Commissioner for assistance- This lie refused. I am, &c., J. L. Adams. [Our statements were based on information received from Mr Maekay and other reliable sources. Mr Maekay maintains that Mr Adams did positively refuse to do the work for £2OO, hut after Mr Griffiths was appointed Mr Adams offered to ieduce the amount of his offer and proffered a consideration to Mr Griffiths to give up the appointment to him. Ed. J I.T.]