THE NEW LIQUOR BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 902, 8 October 1910, Page 3

THE NEW LIQUOR BILL.

NATIONAL PROHIBITION. THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY REDUCED. The following are the main features of the Licensing Bill introduced in the House of Representatives last evening : National probibiton is to be submitted as an issue at licensing polls. Local no-license aud national prohibition are to be carried by 55 per cent, of the the voters. If national prohibition is carried the issue of national restoration is to be placed before electors at the first election three years alter the coming into force of prohibition. The proposal for national restoration is to be carried by 55 per cent, of voters, aud the determination is to come into force after three months. Licensing polls are to be taken periodically after the determination •to restore licenses. Any determination in favour of national prohibition is not to come into force for four years, and is to remain in force until superceded by the restoration of licenses. On the coming into force of national prohibition or local nolicense, all licenses shall, unless determined in course of law, continue in force for the respective periods for which they were granted. The provision that half the voters on the roll must vote to render the poll valid is abolished. This, it is anticipated, will do away with the necessity of putting up no-liceuse candidates to ensure the required attendance on polling day. During national prohibition, liquor is not to be imported, manufactured, or sold in New Zealand, Local restoration is to be carried by a fifty-five per cent, of voters, and shall take effect after one year.

Alter local or national restoration is carried, the number of publicans’ licenses granted shall not exceed one for every complete four hundred electors, or less than one for every eight hundred. No bottle license is to be granted or renewed after the passing of the Bill.

Employment of barmaids is prohibited after June, 1911, except in the case of (a) the wife or daughter of the licensee ot the premises, (b) the licensee being a woman, (c) any person registered as a barmaid by that date. The age under which it is illegal to serve youths is extended to twenty-one. The Governor may proclaim districts within which liquor may not be supplied to a Native. It is an offence to supply liquor to an intoxicated male Native or to a female Native (with certain reservations). Licenses are not to be granted in respect to breweries within five miles of No-license districts, and brewery depots are not to be established within the same radius. The reduction issue at present on the ballot-papers is abolished.