SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO THE LOCAL OPTION BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5129, 31 August 1877, Page 3

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO THE LOCAL OPTION BILL.

A meeting of the Licensed Victuallers’ Committee was held at the Occidental Hotel yesterday, when the following amendments and alterations were suggested to the Local Option Bill now before the Assembly ; —That -the licensing districts should be the wards, x-idiugs, or such other portions of districts as may be appointed by the Governor for the purposes of local self-government. Every male and female on the present electoral roll is to have a vote, aud all adult males who have resided in the district for six months, and every married woman, shall be entitled to vote, their names to be placed on a supplementary list, provision being made for hearing applications and objections. On the requisition of one-fifth of the registered voters ia the district, a direct poll of “aye” and “no” shall be taken, the expenses of such poll to be defrayed from the local rates. Fifty persons are to have the right of demanding a poll if they, will guarantee the necessary expenses. If more than threefourths of the total electors on the roll register their votes, a simple majority is to decide the question ; if less than three-fourths, a majority of at least three-fifths of the votes given will be required to close the houses in the district. The votes are to be taken in the manner provided by the Regulation of Local Elections Act. With regard to existing licensed houses, the vote shall be for all or none. When the houses are closed, the property shall be valued by two sworn valuers, one to be appointed by the licensee, and the other by the Governor. The amount agreed upon as compensation shall be defi-ayed by a special rate on the district. Where the voting is in favor of the houses, the holders of licenses then current shall have the right of renewal by payment of an annual fee, unless they infringe the law. In the case of new licenses, applicants may deposit plans of the intended building, and if .on 30 days’ notice being given thereof, one-fifth of the electors of a district object to the license, the applicant will be required to guarantee the cost of taking a vote, and a majority may forbid the issue of the license. If no objection is made, the Commissioners may promise the license, on condition that the buildiug is erected according to the plans. If a complaint is made ■ and proved in the Resident Magistrate’s Court that a man is an habitual drunkard, or spends in drink the money required -for the maintenance of his family, the Resident Magistrate shall direct such means of identification to be taken as he may deem fit, aud cause a notice to be served on every keeper of a licensed house within ten miles of the Court, forbidding them to serve the accused with, drink. _ The first time any publican is found serving a prohibited person, he shall be fined £2, and on the second conviction for serving the same person £lO, and for the third conviction his license may be absolutely , forfeited.