LICENSING REFORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2798, 16 October 1924, Page 3

LICENSING REFORM.

-REPORT of parliamentary COMMITTEE. Wellington Last Night. Following is the text of the report of the special committee on licensing legislation.— (1) That no more licenses are required in the Dominion. Jt is, however, necessary that there shall be a redistribution of licenses more in accord with the needs of the population in various districts. (2) That license fees should he substantially increased, and that licensed houses should be classified info three classes, That local an .thorities should receive the amount of license fees as at present, but all increased fees should be paid into the Consolida t ed Fund. (3) That provision should he made as follows: No premium money or other valuable consideration shall be paid or given for the good will on the granting of a. transfer or renewal of a lease of licensed premises. Any person receiving such consideration shall he liable to a fine of £SOO and on the seeoild offence the.license of the House shall be cancelled. Anyone paying such premium or purchase money or giving any valuable consideration for such goodwill shall have the right to recover the same or the value thereof by action at law. The Court shall have full power to decide whether the payment of premium on consideration was either directly or indirectly in the nature of a provision for payment for goodwill. (4) That all leases or licenses to occupy licensed premises shall, before coming -Operative, have the consent of a chairman of a Licensing Committee; that- in considering the granting or refusal of such con sent, the chairman of (lie. Licensing Committee shall take into considera tion the general terms of the lease and decide if the terms are reasonable or unduly oppressive; that the chairman shall refuse consent to any lease which, in his opinion, makes provision for constituting' the premises.a “tied house” under the provisions of the Licensing Ac!, 1908. (5) That it is necessary that there should be more effective inspection of liquor and of licensed premises and more ample penalties provided for the adulteration of liquor; that it should be the duty of inspectors to make constant and complete inspection of all parts of licensed premises for the purpose of seeing (a) that the provisions of (lie Licensing Act are strictly observed and that the general standard of accommodation is in keeping with the tariff charge; (b) that the premises are reasonably required and used for public accommodation; (c) that sufficient information as to ■guests who sleep in the house he kept by the licensee, so as to enable the'inspector to ascertain if licensed premises are fulfilling requirements for public accommodation. (fi) That in order to avoid-traf-fieking in licenses, transfers should not be allowed under three years, except through sickness, death, or other special circumstances. (7) That with a view to making it possible for licensees to provide additional ascommodafion where necessary, without risk of personal loss, the Licensing Act should be so amended as to provide that in the event of prohibition being carried at any poll it should not come into force until four years have elapsed af ter the date of such poll. (8) That in the event of continuance being carried no further, poll should be taken for nine years. (9) That section G 4 of the Licensing Act, 1918 (providing that no poll be taken if prohibition is carried) he repealed. (10) That whatever period is determined by the Government between the taking of the polls shall he applicable to both issues. (14) That where a conviction for serious breaches of the Licensing Act is obtained the Magistrate should be given power to declare the person convicted unfit to hold a publican’s license. '(19) That no man should act as a barman without a license granted by _ the Licensing Committee or by the police to such persons as may be thought fit; that all convictions against a barman should be endorsed on his license; that his license be cancelled after three endorsements. (20) That Licensing Committees should have power to determine the number of public and private bars in any hotel; that it should be illegal to serve any woman with intoxicating liquor in a bar to which the public have access or any room opening on to such bar. (21) That if national prohibition be carried it be made clear that there is no restriction on the making of liquor containing not more than two per cent, of alcohol for home consumption. * . (2) That a Licensing Committee may require that all hotels that require to be built or to be rebuilt should be erected in brick or stone or other noil-combustible material.