Mr Seddon’s New Licensing Bill.

Manawatu Herald, 3 September 1904, Page 2

Mr Seddon’s New Licensing Bill.

The following, quoted from the Manawatu Times, is an abstract of the provisions of the new Licensing Bill, which was submitted to the House of Representatives by the Premier on Tuesday last“ It is proposed under the Bill to give the electors an opportunity of determining at the next election (1) Whether in the event of nolicense being carried, liquor shall be allowed to enter a district, and : (2) Whether the electors are favor-1 able to State control of the liquor j traffic. To facilitate such an expres- | sion of opinion, numbered papers of ' different sizes and colors will be issued to voters at the booths. If the electors in any district decide to prevent the entry of liquor into such district, all persons found in the possession of liquor shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £2O, and the liquor and receptacles or the proceeds of the sale thereof shall be donated to the local hospital authorities. Persons may by virtue of Order-in-Council, however, secure a permit to store liquor for medicinal, scientific, or manufacturing purposes. In districts where no-license has been carried, but into which the entry of liquor is permitted for private use, all supplies must go through a Customs officer or his appointed agent, and must be issued through his hands in sealed receptacles with the contents plainly designated. Such Customs officer shall not let liquor go forward unless he is satisfied that it is bona fide for private consumption. It is proposed to fine persons who evade this law not more than £SO for a first offence, in default not more than three months’ imprisonment, and not less than £25, or not less than one month’s imprisonment for a second offence. Six persons may demand a recount of votes cast at a licensing poll under the supervision of a magistrate, but in the event of their representations proving frivolous, their deposit of £lO may be estreated. Fifty electors may, within 14 days, demand an enquiry into the conduct of any poll, provided they deposit £2O, and their complaints shall be heard by a Stipendiary Magistrate and two J’sP., who shall determine the | matter by majority, and apportion ; costs or estreat such portions of the 1 deposit as they see fit if they regard ; the complaints made as frivolous. Any six electors may sign a counter petition, and will thereupon be re- 1 garded as respondents and be liable

to pay costs if their objections are not well sustained. Persons guilty of irregularities in connection with such polls will be liable to a fine of £SO. Severe penalties are provided against persons endeavouring to intercept or advise voters at or on their way to the polls, or issuing mock ballot papers, or distributing, delivering or possessing capers purporting to instruct electors how to vote, within three days of the taking of a poll. Stringent provision is made to prevent liquor entering the King Country or Cook Islands, fines being stipulated for first offences and imprisonment Without the option, for subsequent offences. An innovation is made in the direction of giving magistrates discretion in the matter of endorsing licenses in cases in which convictions have been recorded. A bone of contention is provided by clauses enacting that every record of endorsements made before the passing of this Act shall be deemed cancelled at the expiration of twelve mOtiths from the date of convictions beirig recorded ; also that a man convicted three times in three years shall be prohibited from holding a license for five years; and that a house suffering three convictions in three years shall be liable to be closed for twd years unless (and this vVill pfbvo a very debatable reservation) the committee otherwise determines. Another important provision is that the committee may on application of the owner, transfer a license after two convictions, if the license is being jeopardised. Other notable sections are those providing for 4 the fining of persons who are parties to breaches of the licensing law, and also of employees of licensees who make breaches of the law. Home sweeping clauses are introduced, aimed at the extinction of “ tied houses,” making suras paid or estreated or forfeited under tiedhouse bonds recoverable as a common debt. Clubs are brought into the same category as publichouses in every respect, save that there is no expfbsS provision for inspection.”