The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 402, 18 June 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1881.

The new Licensing Bill having passed its second reading in the General Assembly, it may not be deemed out of place to present our readers with a few of the main features of the same, the more especially as it may affect those who may apply for new licenses within the Temuka district. There are fifty-eight pages, containing 229 clauses and eleven schedules, the last clause repealing all existing Acts, and the last schedule comprising a list of Acts so repealed, these including one of the Imperial Parliament (24 George 11., c. 40) four o£ the Governor and Legislative Council of New Zealand, fourteen of the General Assembly, and thirty-two Provincial Ordinances. The clauses relating to interest in different houses now runs as follows :—(2G) “ No licensed publican shall at any time hold or have any beneficial interest in more than one license, either by himself, his lessee, servant or agent, and any interference by any licensed person with the business of any licensed premises other than the premises for which he is licensed, shal bo deemed prima facie evidence of a beneficial interest within the meaning of the section. Any person offending against the provisions of this section shall bo liable to a penalty of £5 for every day during which be shall hold or have any beneficial interest in more that one license.”- Licenses are divided into two classes—the first class including publicans, family hotels, clubs, bottle, New Zealand wine and billiard table licenses ; the second class comprising packet, wholesale and conditional licenses. Under the club license the licensee must be an officer or servant of the club, and may only supply liquor to bona fide members and their-guests. The New Zealand wine license authorises the sale between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., in quantities not exceeding two gallons to any persor of wine, cider and perry, the produce of fruit grown in the colony, the liquor to have a strength not exceeding 30 per cent, of proof spirit. New licenses (of the.first class) are only to be granted at each annual rupeting.to be held in June. Second-class licenses may be. granted at any time. The following, are. proposed as the annual fees for the various licenses;— Publicans’ license within a borough, £4O;

outside, £3O ; club license, £2O ; bottle license, £4O ; New Zealand wine license, £1; billiard table license, £lO ; packet license, £lO ; wholesale license, £10; conditional license, according to duration and special circumstances, not exceedin' £3O- - liquor of any description is to be supplied to persons of either sex who are apparently under the ago of sixteen years* the exemptions in last year’s Bill permitting beer to be supplied to children of twelve years being struck out, Convictions for selling adulterated liquor are to bo endorsed on the offender’s license and placarded on bis premises in such a manner as the Court may direct, and for a second offence is to be advertised at his cost in sueh newspaper and as often as the Court deem desirable. There are the usual provisions in regard to other matters as in last year’s Bill, local option being applied, as in that case, to new applications only.