LIQUOR RESTRICTION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1917, Page 4

LIQUOR RESTRICTION BILL.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS.

BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIt '

By Wire.— Our Parliamentary ReporW

Wellington, Last Night. The Sale of Liquor Reßtriotion Bill Wag returned to the Legislative Council today by the Statutes Revision Committee, which has made some important amendments. The hours of gale adopted by the House have not been altered. The committee proposeg that the Bill shall come into operation on December 1, instead of November 1, and it has added. new provisions regarding the rearrangement of rents as between licensees and owners of hotel premises. The licensee may at any time before March 1 nexrt require the lessor to reduce the rent to an amount specified, or else accept a surrender of lease. In the event of a surrender the lessee will be entitled to the refund of a proportionate part of the money paid in connection with-the lease. If the leßsor docs not reduce the rent or accept surrender within fourteen days, the matter may be referred to* a"* bitration.

Another new provision is that the H« censee, with the consent of the' owner and the Licensing Committee, upon proving that the house cannot be conducted profitably under the new conditions, may close tlfe house during the* continuance of the Act, without losing the license; ' Chartered clubs are brought definitely within the scope of the early-closing rule, and will forfeit their charters if a magistrate holds that they have toflkew the law.

Then, it is provided that persons may bo on licensed premises before 6 a.m. and after 0 p.m., for the purpose of taking meals, but must not be supplied witS liquor. •'" •