The Government Licensing Bill.

Manawatu Herald, 6 August 1895, Page 3

The Government Licensing Bill.

The moat important clauses, in. the Bill .are :— Those relating to the. licensing poll, which is not to come into Operation until the day before the riexl general election. Four questions are to be submitted to electors, viz : —

(1) Whether the number of licenses existing in the district; is. to oontinue ;

(2) Whether the number of licensed existing in the district is to be reduced ;

(8) Whether no licenses are to,, be granted in the district ; (4) .'Whether no licenses are to be granted in the Colony. The licensing polls are to be taken on thteday and at the same time as the general election polling.

Thd result of the licensing poll is

to be decided as follows :— On the * question^ (1) and (2), an absolute majority of the votes recorded will decide these questions. On questions (3) and (4) a three-fifths majority of the votes recorded will be necessary Jo gife effect to these.

In any district where Prohibition $as plready been carried, a threefifth*: majority will be required to reverse this decision.

If a reduction of the licenses is carried the Committee shall at its first a^btial meeting after the licensing 'poll reduce the number of licenses by not less than 5 per cent nor more than 25 per cent of the total number of licenses in the district, exclusive of licenses forfeited by lay.; If local Prohibition be carried, no licenses shall be renewed in the districts

If Colonial Prohibition is carried, the Customs authorities are to be the only importers, and chemists vtll.ha appointed to sell it. Ail aib^olute majority of the House SfctddfiMdiiat the beginning of eaoh bmk P^lkmeht; whether liquor, is to |*Mid at Bellamy 'i t

Clubcharfcersareto.be subject to the results, of the licensing pdll; No liquor shall be sold at any club at hours when it may not be sold on any licensed premises; Thdre shall be no increases in the number of licenses in any district unless the population increases by 10 per cent. The increases in licenses must not exceed one license for tvery seven hundred of such ihci'eafle in population".

No new bottle or wine licenses arG to be granted.

Section 97 of the Act of 1881 is amended to prevent the possibility of a recurrence of the 1 Levin case.

Any person selling liquor to. any male aboriginal native, who is in ft state of intoxication, or sells, or in any way gives or supplies, or allows to be sold, given or supplied, any liquor to any female aboriginal native whomsoever, la made liable to a : penalty of not less than £2 nor More than £10.

Prohibited persons make themselves liable to a penalty of £10 by entering any licensed premises, and so does any person accompanying or procuring drink for them*