POLL FOR NEW LICENSES.

Patea Mail, 10 February 1882, Page 3

POLL FOR NEW LICENSES.

The control of publicans licenses is now so completely in the hands of ratepayers, that this colony may be said to have got “ local option ” in a simple form. But not many towns are making much stir about the new principle. They take it ns a matter of course. The nomination of Licensing Committees was done in many towns by the combined action of publicans. Good Templars have not shown much activity in this year’s elections. The fight, when it comes, will bo on the question of increasing the number of licenses; for the Act has this curious provision, that not a single new license for a public-house, or accommodation house, or for selling N.Z. wine, or for selling liquor in bottles, shall be granted by a committee, until the principle of increasing or not increasing the number of such licenses has been determined by a poll of ratepayers. This poll is to be taken in the present year, to affirm a general principle, and is to be taken afterwards every third year. The Chairman of the Licensing Committee is to fix the date for the poll, and there may be a triennial struggle as to whether licenses shall be increased or not. The Act will operate in this manner, that if ratepayers rote for an increase, the Committee may grant any number of new licenses. If the poll be against increase, the Committee cannot grant even one new license. The poll will operate, therefore, not on the question of a particular license, but only on the abstract question of increase or no increase. The public decide the abstract question, and the Committee decide each particular application for a new license.