LICENSING PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2461, 1 August 1922, Page 4

LICENSING PROPOSALS.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. Mr Hockley brought down in the House of Representatives last week the report of the licensing committee, which suggested that in the event of national prohibition not being carried at the coming licensing poll the Government be recommended to make amendments in the licensing law, of which the following are the principal: No more licenses are required in New Zealand, but there should be a redistribution in accordance with the needs of the population. Flat rate licensing fees should be abolished and fees based on the percentage of liquor sold. No premium or other valuable consideration shall be paid for goodwill on granting a transfer or renewal of licensing leases; anyone receiving such payment shall be liable to a fine of £SOO and on the second offence the license for the house shall be cancelled and the money so paid shall be recoverable at law. If prohibition is not carried the people of the Rohe Potae'shall be given an opportunity of voting license or nolicense. There shall be a more ef* fective inspection of liquor and licensed premises and'more ample penalties for adulteration; special inspectors should be appointed for the purpose. To make it possible for the licensees to provide additional accommodation w’ithout loss wherever prohibition is carried it should not come into force until four years after the poll. Clubs

should be allowed to insial the locker system and extend the hours on special occasions providing the consumption of liquor is confined to one room. Restaurants should be put on the same footing as publichalls in regard _to the consumption 'of liquor at social gatherings if a permit is obtained from the police. Barmen should be licensed and convictions endorsed on the license, the latter to be cancelled after three convictions. It shall be illegal to serve women in a bar to which the public have access or any room opening on such bar. The enrolment of electors shall be compulsory. If national prohibition is carried it shall be made clear that there is no restriction on the making of liquor containing not more than three ]:>er cent, of alcohol for home consumption.

In moving that the report lay on the table and be printed. Mr Hockley said it had been predicted that the proceedings of the committee would resemble a “Donnybrook,” but as a matter of fact the committee had worked together most reasonably and the discussions were carried out with dignity and decorum. He enumerated a number of the proposals which the committee re-jected-and justified the N proposal that if prohibition was nut carried the people of Rohe Potae be given the opportunity of voting license or no-licenso on the ground that the circumstances had completely changed since the natives requested that liquor be prohibited, and it was felt that modern conditions warranted this opportunity being given the people now living in the King Country.

On the motion of Sir John Luke, the debate on the report was adjourned until Wednesday.

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