The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1894. The New Licensing Bill.

Manawatu Herald, 25 August 1894, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1894. The New Licensing Bill.

A new and consolidating Licensing Bill has been circulated and its chief features are that the poll shall be taken on the 'day of every election ; one fourth of the total number, of elector? mu?t poll to sa,ve the pall, being ,yoid' ; if a red ucbion of licenses is carried, not less than five and not more than 25 per cent of the licenses shall be abolished ; if the returns of the whole colony show that three-fifths have voted for prohibition !■'■ then <-ib! sfiall be deoterea'cai^iea^feWr'.Bhall not take effect at least one year after the poll ; railway refreshen t^.room licensej . au© to he abolished ; .' . . tne fibinrtritteVto' consist* of the 'Magistrate, the Mayor, of every borough in the district, the chairman of every town board, the chai^flan^^f.fevefy i county, the/cbAjnnfin ,sqf;,e very. -road board, the chairman ofthe'Educa tion Board, the chairman of the t Harbour Board, and the Hospital

ai|d Charitable Aid Board chairmen. The Magistrate shall be the chairman of tlie; committee; \ • •The measure appear!? to be an improvement upon the existing Act and tends more towards the views of the prohibitionists, We like the ftlte*-ftt.von of -the- committee in so -far--0,3 it tin&s away with the elective element, but we can see ittany diifficulties chopping i.ip ih this btaki rttfctriet should the committee stand as suggested, as owing to the northern halif of the 'district having few lo^iil bodies it will lie overshadowed by the numerous small bodies in the South. There appears a need of some diminution of nnmbpi's where, Wad boards run over the same area as counties. For our own part we would- prefc* that the administration of the Act was kit to tho Stippndlar.y Magistrate, granting hiiiiyWwevelV some assUtniieo. in deciding upon the houses to be closed should a reduction be earned at the jjoll. In no other case does it appear necessary to convene so many members to .do practically nothing. ' .