LICENSING LAW AMENDMENTS

Otaki Mail, 31 July 1922, Page 4

LICENSING LAW AMENDMENTS

e PROPOSALS IF PROIIIBiTION IS i i DEFEATED. t I 'llie report of the Parliamentary 1 Licensing Committee was on the iable ol the House to-day. The com- j rnitiee reviewed the requests lo give ev idence and heard them. It resolv- j ed tiun in tiie event ol national pro- 1 liibition not being carried at tiie coming licensing poll tiie Government be recommended to make amendments in Rie licensing law, of wliich the fol- , lowing are the principle:— ' | No more licenses are required in t j New Zealand, hut there should be a i i edisti ibiTu'ori in accordance with the' needs of tiie population. *■ Elai rate licensing fees should be abolished and fees based on tiie percentage of liquor sold. No premium or oilier valuable consideration shall be paid for goodwill j on granting a transfer or renewal of* licensing leases. Anyone receiving such payment -shall be liable to a fine of £SOO and on tiie second offence the license for the house shall be cancelley and the money so paid shall be recoverable a; law. R prohibition is not carried the people ol the Rohe Potae iKing Country- shall he given an opportunity of voiing license or no-license. There shall lie a more effective inspection of liquor an>l licensed premises and more ample penalties for adulteration. Special inspectors should be appointed for the licensees to provide additional accommodation, without loss wherever prohibition is | carried it should not come into force until lour years after the poll. ] Clubs should be allowed to install the locker system and extend hours on special occasions providing tiie con-1 -nmpiinn of liquor is confined to one j loom. Restaurants should be put on, the same footing as public halls in re-; gnrrl to tiie consumption of liquor at, Micial gatherings, if a permit is obtaiiied Rom the police. Rariuen should be licensed and convietioiis endorsed on the license, the latier to lie cancelled alter three con-' vlciious. It shall he illegal to serve women in the bar- to which the public have access or any room opening on such bar. The eiit'oHiieib of electors shall be compulsory. Ii national prohibition is carried it *luill lie made clear that there is no restriction <m ihe making of liquor containing not more than three per .cm of alcohol for home consumplioll.