LICENSING LAWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 9 February 1909, Page 3

LICENSING LAWS.

A Queensland Commissioner.

Mr R. A. Ranking, police magistrate, of Queensland, arrived in Wellington by the Mokoia last week. Mr Ranking has been specially appointed by the Queensland Government to inquire into the liquor laws ot the various states of the Commonwealth and New Zealund.

Mr Ranking states that the Queensland liquor, law dates back to 1885 and 1886, and although a few atnending Acts have since been passed, the Government feels that the th£ existing legislation relating , liquor traffic is a little behiud'tte times.

The Government of Queensland proposes to'yass, new liquor legislation, which wi ' he based largely on Mr Ranking’s researches. Mr Ranking will conduct .his main enquiries in this country on lines which may be summarised as follows The general result in New Zealand of diminution and total abolition of licenses in particular districts as regarded the visible effects upon the social and civic improvements, the diminution in crime, the effect on Customs revenue, and generally as to how the well-being of the community had been, or seemed to have been, affected. Also, as to the system of taking licensing polls —whether they should be taken on the same day as the general elections polling —and the majority required for carrying the issues submitted ; as to the system of giving compensation for the licenses removed ; as to the discrimination, if any, between license fees in various portions of the same city ; as to any system existing by which license fees vary in regard to the amount of trade done; as to the question of wholesale spirit merchants, Sunday trading, and the adulteration of liquor.