PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1088, 17 June 1882, Page 4

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.

The following is a copy of the amendments to Clauses of the Licensing Act ■ submitted to Parliament by the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association: —To the Honorable Members of the House of Representatives now in ■Parliament assembled. Gentlemen, —At general Meeting, held in Christchurch, of the Canterbury Licensed Victuallers’ Association, ■it was resolved respectfully to lay before your notice the following Amendunents to clauses of the “Licensing Act, 1881,’’and also that a clause be inserted allowing Hotels to be opened between the hours of 1 and 3 on Sundays. We think these alterations will be advantageous to the general working of the Act, and to the benefit of the community generally : — Clause 11.—To be altered to the -effect that the Government nominate the Licensing Committee instead of being elected as at present. Clause 29. —Sub-sections 2 and 4 be -expunged. Clause 30.—The word eleven to replace the word ten, and Clause 154 be altered to read the same. Clause 44. —Sub-section 14 to be altered to read “ may be reconsidered.’ Clause 155. —The word “ whomsoever” to be expunged, and to be’replaced by the words “ excepting Boarders and Lodgers,” and further to be altered to read “may be recorded.” Clause 205. —To be expunged. Clause 207. —Sub-sections 2 and 3 to be expunged, or failing this, to read -• person ” instead of “ premises.” Trusting this will receive your favorable attention, I have the honor Ho be, gentlemen, yours faithfully, R. Richardson, President. Christchurch, May 30,1882. The Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association have also determined to petition Parliament against several of the clauses contained in the new' Li•censing Act. We subjoin the headings under which the petition is to be drawn up:— I. Licensing districts too small; should be Borough, County, or Hoad Board districts. * 2. Licensing Benches should be nominated by Government, not elective, as so few tike any interest in •elections. 3. Bottle licenses, none; or one law for the whole Colony. 4. Wine licenses, none ; as there is ’little or no wine made in New Zealand. 5. Open on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m., and in the evening from 7.30 to 10.30, as in the Old Country, a 6. If bottle licences be continued as at present in Otago, there should be a proportionate reduction in the license fees of the publicans. 7. Freedom of contract between employers and barmaids, but for 10 hour -only. 8. Clauses providing that licenses shall be endorsed should be expunged, as a fine is sufficient punishment, and the Licensing Benches have always power to refuse renew als where necessary. Effect of endorsement is out of ■ all proportion to the offence, and could be made the ’means of deterioration and almost confiscation of property. 9. Section 170 should be struck out. Should not convict on suspicion or on presumptive evidence. 10. Section 199 should be struck • out, aud provision made for appeal to the Supreme Court, as at present it is unfair, and exceptional legislation for a trade which has a larger amount of money invested in it than any other business in the country. 11. Sections 204 to 211 both inclusive, te be struck out, as these clauses -are legislation for criminals, the punishment being out of all proportion to ■the offence, and does not respect the rights of owners of property. The Licensing Bench had always power to refuse licenses on proof of misconduct