THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1893. THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2545, 22 August 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1893. THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

As we were able to give only a very brief idea of the new Licensing Bill in our last issue it may not be inappropriate to refer more fully to it. The title of it is “ The Alcoholic Liquors Sale and Control Act, 1893,” and it is to be read in conjunction with the present Act. The licensing districts will be the same as the electoral districts, and the voters the same also. From and after the annual meetings of Licensing Committees, which are to be held next jmar, nolicenses'sha.U be granted until a poll of the electors has been taken as to whether the present licenses shall bo continued or reduced, or whether no licenses shall be granted. This poll will be taken in the month of March in every third year under the “ Regulation of Elections Act,” and there shall be as many polling booths in the district as if it were a general election. An absolute or bare majority in favor of continuing existing licenses, or reducing their number shall be sufficient, but three-fifths must vote for refusing all licenses. If the vote is in favor of reducing the number of licenses, they shall bo reduced by not more than one-fourth, publicans who have been convicted of offences being the first to be shut up ; and those who have very little accommodation second. The lease of any house to which a license has been refused shall become void, and the lessee ceases to pay rent. Power is given to local bodies to increase the rates to make up any loss arising from licenses being refused. There is one strange provision, and it is that unless half the number of electors in an electoral district vote, the whole thing is declared void, and the existing licenses shall not be disturbed. The Licensing Committees will consist of nine persons resident in the district, and they shall be elected every third year, but no one interested in the liquor traffic will be eligible, while persons holding declared prohibitionist views are eligible, and their acts shall not be invalid on the ground of bias. The committee are to be elected by the same electors as members of Parliament, and if the people neglect to elect a committee the Cover nor shall nominate a committee. Members of committee shall be paid actual travelling expenses by the local body receiving the license foes, and the same body shall also defray all other expenses. All womeu except widows are disqualified from holding licenses; and no 12 o’clock licenses shad be granted. 1 hese are the leading features of the Bill; the balance chiefly deals with details - 1 technicalities. There are two points aiiu . ’’ we do not like, and these are in it whio*. ; wity, and that unless the three-nftnd m **)■-- 1 ->rs on the roll half the number of i shall vote, the whole proceeding 81 \

declared void for three years. The latter is really an attempt to coerce people to vote, and is a most objectionable principle. Why should not the people be allowed to please themselves ? or why should those who take an active and intelligent interest in the administration of the law be punished for the carelessness or negligence of others ? It is the careless and negligent which the law of nature invariably punishes, hue here the order has been reversed. The active is to have all his work for nothing because of the negligence of his neighbor. With regard to the three-fifths majority we must say that we felt considerably surprised at the Honorable W. P. Beeves denying that a bare majority constitutes true Liberalism. Surely it is more reasonable that three men should rule five, than that two men should do it. Had Mr Reeves admitted that the proposal was not altogether truly democratic, and pleaded expediency, we should feel inclined to sympathise with him. Had ho told us that true Liberalism has frequently to give way to expediency and that all great measures are made up of compromises, he would hare scored a point, but to deny that Government by a majority was true Liberalism is what we did not expect from him at any rate. However, although we entirely disapprove of the principle of three-fifths majority ; perhaps it is just as well that it has been applied in this instance. We have always favored the , temperance party and sympathised with them in every instance, but we certainly should not like them to shut up all public houses in one day. That would have been a great misfortune from a temperance point of view, for it would lead to such a disturbed social condition that a re-action would set iu, and the people would demand the re-open-ing of the houses. It is, therefore, perhaps as well that a break is put on for the present, but without a doubt the day is not for distant when the bare majority will bo insisted on. The Bill is the most advanced step taken yet; it affirms the principle of the direct veto ; it is in fact the direct veto with the break on, and we should advise the temperance party to accept it for the time being cordially and thankfully, and ask for no moi’c during the coming election. Under it the number of public houses will without a doubt be reduced, and thus tho opposition will be diminishing yearly, while the people will, at tho same time be getting better prepared for complete prohibition. It is no use to insist on prohibition before public opinion is ready to accept it, and it is far better to let it come about gradu ally than to force it on. As regards the liquor party it appears to us that they too ought to

accept the bill thankfully. There cannot be the slightest doubt but that if this Bill will not pass, a far more drastic measure will pass before long. As it is the publicans are safe-guarded by the larger districts, by the three-fifths majority, and by half the number having to vote. The Premier said that he would introduce a Bill which would satisfy both parties, and we must confess that he has gone pretty well as near to it as human ingenuity could. There cannot be any doubt but that it is a very cleverly thought out Bill, and if both sides were reasonable they would accept it, and feel thankful for it. There is one thing omitted. When the number of licenses are reduced, the license fees should be increased to make up the loss of revenue to local bodies. For instance, let us suppose,that one of the five houses in Temuka were shut up, the other four houses would benefit by it, and consequently could afford to pay higher license fees. It would be no hardship on them, it would be only fair. The Bill, if it becomes law, will result in public houses conducted, because it provides that badly conducted houses are the first to be reduced. This will make publicans more careful. They cannot get lawyers to prove that black is white to the electors in the ballot box; the electors will be guided by personal knowledge, and will vote for a reduction, to get rid of a bad publican. This provision alone ought to make the friends of temperance welcome the Bill. There is one provision in the Bill which publicans will find vexatious, but will do very little real good; that is that no blinds or covering of any kind shall be allowed on any of the windows of the bar-room night or day. That is certainly a peculiar provision, which from a temperance point of view will do no good, as it can easily be evaded. Taken all round, wo think the Act more satisfactory than was expected, and that the Government deserve great credit for it.