BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9037, 2 March 1908, Page 7

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

LICENSING BILL.

PROTRACTED STRUGGLE EXPECTED. FIERCE CRITICISM. LONDON, February 28. In the House of Commons, the 'Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, Chan- • eel lor of the Exchequer, introduced a comprehensive Licensing Bill based to some extent on the minority report of Lord Peel's Commission. The Bill comprises an immediate and progressive reduction of facilities on the retail side for the sale of intoxicants. Shu measure provides that the !e shall gradually, and with due regard to existing interests, recover dominion over a monopoly improvi•dently allowed to escape from its control. Some reports state that Mr Asquith's Bill is likely to extend the terms of licenses to fourteen years, and make other concessions. A protracted struggle in committee is anticipated. Later. Mr Asquith said he considered it •contrary to public policy to encourage tied houses. The Bill fixes the annual value as the difference between the value returned for income tax purposes and the value of the premises if they were unlicensed. The latter will be estimated by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. Afifer fourteen years' monopoly the all licenses will be restored to the community, and local option will follow. Meanwhile, the parochial electors will exercise a local in connection with new licenses, the vote being binding for three years. Clubs must register annually, and afford an opportunity for objections being made, uniformed police officials jnay inspect them. The .Bill fixes the limit for the bona fide traveller at five miles. It confers local Option on Wales, and extends the Welsh provisions as to closing to Monmouthshire. It does not allow children to enter licensed bars. Mr Balfour strenuously protested against the extinction of legal property a robbery. Compensation offered should be on the present market vaijfre; that was a fair sum, and anything else was wrong. -He predicted the multiplication of unlicensed drinking places. Liberals and Labourites warmly supported the Bill, which the Liberal newspapers welcome as bold and farreaching. Conservative journals predict great disturbances and annoyance, and consider that the Bill will do little good towards the promotion of temperance.

The temperance members of the House of Commons cheered as Mr Aaquith questioned the existence of the legal right of property in licenses, but were silent when h 3 remarked that there had grown up outside of the law interests, which statesmen were unable to ignore.

The Bill proposes compulsory reduction in the numbev of no-licenses during the time limit for compensatipn —namely, fourteen years—supprising 32,000, or one-third of the whole, and fixes the maximum number of licenses according to density of population. It greatly reduces the scale of compensation, and establishes a central | Licensing Commission in connection with the compensation fund established under Mr Balfour's Act of 1904. The area for a levy on the licensing trade will cover the whole of England and Wales, and compensation for such will suffice, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent., to purchase an immediate annuity for the unexpired years of the reduction period, the Commissioners for Inland Revenue adding what they consider just compensation to license-holders for the loss of business. There is fierce criticism of the Licensing Bill. The trade declares the measure countenances sheer robbery, while nonconformists and tempera ice advocates applaud it. . The brewery share is parand other investments affected.

"THE GOVERNMENT'S DEATH

WARRANT."

Received March 1, 4.43 p.m. LONDON, February 29. _ The "Daily Telegraph" declares that Mr Asquith's Bill has signed the death warrant cf the Government.