The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Survant la verites SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1883. A MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 54, 27 January 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Survant la verites SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1883. A MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION.

— ♦ ' Some disappointment has been ex* pressed occasionally by those more immediately: interested, at the absence of Home provision m the Licensing Act, under which hbtelkeepers may obtain permission on special occasions to keep open their establishments beyond the ordinary hour prescribed by law. This time- honored custom had (writes 1 a exchange) till the present Act came into force, been m vogue throughout the colony for many years— and we believe still exists m other colonies — uor do we see any strong objection to it so long as hotelkeeping is countenanced by the State, and properly carried on. Such a state of things has prevailed on such occasions as housewarmings, on the erection of new hoaxes, or the extension of premises, the holding of balls, <fee, and, as previously men* tioned, no reasonable objection can be raised to each, so long as carried on with demeanour and within reasonable limits. Some permits of the kind certainly have been granted m various districts since the present Act came into fotce ; but they were granted m error, as it appears that the framers of the Licensing Act Emitted — intentionally or unintentionally — to recognise, under any circumstances, the right of a publican to keep open his licensed house beyond the ordinary hour prescribed-rwhether it be a ten, eleven, or twelve o'c'ock at night license. The only provision approach* iug the subjects is m section 73, which enacts that a-condition.al license m^y be granted^ at anytime by twofmemWrs of a licensing committee for a district, to the holder of a publican's license, giving such. holder authoriqrio sell aud dispose of liquor at any fair, military encampment, races, regatta, rowing match, cricket ground, or other place of public amusement for a period not exceeding, with renewals, seven days, Bubject to such condition and .restriction, as r members* granting the license snail thinkfit. This is the extent to which the Act goes and no further.