GOVERNMENT LICENSING BILL.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 6 August 1895, Page 2

GOVERNMENT LICENSING BILL.

The long-expected and much discussed Government Bill to deal with the liquor tariff has at length been introduced by the Premier in the House. The chief amendments upon the present law are those relating to local and colonial prohibition. It is provided that every general election for members of the House the electors in each licensing district are to be polled to determine whether the existing licenses are to continue or to be redvced, or whether no licenses are to be granted in the district, or whether no licenses are to be granted in the colony. A bare majority of the voters carries the continuance of the licenses, but a three-fifths majority is required to reduce or abolish them. If a reduction is carried, the committee is to'reduce not less than 5 or more than 25 per cent. With respect to colonial prohibition, the Bill provides that all the results of the polls are to be sent to the Minister, who Bhall go into the votes on the question whether licenses shall be granted in the colony. If he finds that three-fifths of all the voters are not in favor of any licenses being granted in the colony, he then gazettes the fact, and this operates as a national option poll in favor of colonial prohibition. If carried, it comes into force on March 31st next, after 12 months from the date of the poll, from which date it is not lawful to impori, manufacture or distil liquor in the colony, except uuder Government inspection, and for specified purposes, for medicine, arts or manufacture. When the proposals have been carried at the poll it requires the same majority in order to reverse it. If colonial prohibition is reversed the committee in each district shall grant licenses to the a extent of not more than the number nor less than half the number of licenses that existed when prohibition was carried. Similar provisions are made in case of local prohibition being reversed, though of course only applying to the particular district concerned. The existence of Bellamy's is made subject to a poll of members of each House. Clubs are brought more within the compass of the licensing law than heretofore. Bailway refreshment - rooms are made subject to the result of the prohibition poll. Bottle licenses aud New Zealand wine licenses are abolished, and no wholesale licenses can be granted in any district in which licenses are prohibited.

With respect to selling drink to travellers aud lodgers, it is made optional with the publican to do so. Moreover, the liquor must be personally consumed on the premises by the lodger or traveller, and five miles is substituted for three in order to constitute a traveller. A £lO penalty is imposed on anybody against whom a prohibition order is in force, if he is' found in any licensed house, aud on everybody who procures liquor for him. A penalty of £lO is also imposed on anybody -supplying liquor .to a female aboriginal native, or who sells liquor to a male native in a state of intoxication. If any. Licensing Committee is not duly elected, the Stipendiary Magistrate of the district shall himself act as the committee, and exercise all its powers.