AMENDED LICENSING ACT.

Patea Mail, 14 June 1882, Page 4

AMENDED LICENSING ACT.

The bill introduced in the Assembly by Mr Dick to amend the Licensing Act, 1881, provides that the Governor may alter or abolish licensing districts. When any district is altered or the boundaries redefined it is not to be necessary to make new appointments therein, but the licensing committee and all officers duly acting in the district before the alteration or re-definition are to continue to act in and for the district as altered or re-defined. Local bodies are to appoint returning officers, who are to appoint the time and place for the first meeting of licensing committees, such time to be within 14 days and as much earlier as may be. The election of chairman to take place at such first meeting. The coat of electing licensing committees to be paid by the local bodies having jurisdiction in the districts- There are special provisions for native districts. The local bodies (and not their chairman as at present) are to appoint presiding officer at polls of ratepayers for and against new licenses. The expenses of such poll to be paid by the local bodies. Applications for renewal of licenses need not be advertised. Some person may be appointed by the Governor to issue licenses in new mining districts. A temporary transfer of licenses tc be registered, and the licence not to be retained by the clerk of committee as at present, but to be returned to its owner. Local bodies are in all cases to pay the cost of licensing meetings, advertisements, &c, not merely out of the license fees received as at present provided.