BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 252, 17 October 1908, Page 2

BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

! THE DKBATK COMMENCED.

London, October 15. The House of 'Common* J IMB commenced thu debate in committee oa tho Government's Licensing liili. Clause 2 of the Bill, which ~,t,t,. lishas local option bv moans of a paragraph enabling any rural pnrrah or urban area within a licensing district to veto the licenses was adopted bv 313 vote to 117. ' Received Hi, 11.1,-) p.m. London, Oilo her JO. ; IM'r. A'squili-',, amendments to tho local option clause provide lor a twithivds majority instead of a tare majority as the local veto power after th-j termination of the time limit. Yesterday .the debate on clause 3 whowed that the time limit will be strengthened, lilt the Government hesitate to announce to what extent it will

Tljc main objects of the Bill (the second reading of was carried in Ule House of Commons on May 4th) are: (1) The reduction of licences and (2) the complete recovery by thu State of the monopoly values of licensed nouses. It establishes a fourteen ywirs' time Jiimt lor compensation, Such compensation will still be provided by the "trade." The interests of the tenant, hitlcrto neglected, are specially considered 10Inn 'n* ' o( ' ucti < m *l™>« about 32,000 pubhc houses lyill be abolished. OTi« minority report of Lord Peel's (ommission is taken as the basis of reduction-one license for every 7so persons in towns, and one for every 400 m country districts; but the range, is extended on a basis of density of population. '

Discretion of local justices, taken ««;;iy in HIO4, is restored. Justices are to have power to decide njjaniHt employment of barmaids and children. For Wales and Afonmoiiflishirc local veto applies to reduction also. In raeh case the decision of n bare majority of electors .vial) have effect. Hours of opening 'on Sundays'(outRide London) shall he one in tile middle of llic day and two in tile evening. Welsh Sunday closing is extended to Dloiinioiithshlre. With regard to clubs, there is to lis greater supervision. They must eomo up annual!v for renewal of registration and the higher police officials are to have tlhe right of entry. •