ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO REGULATE.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 200, 2 June 1893, Page 3

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO REGULATE.

Mr Earnshaw, M.H.R., has prepared a Bill, for the regulation of the liquor traffic, which he intends to place before the House, but which is not on the lines likely to be approved by the country’s representatives. Briefly stated the Bill is on the following lines : —“ The preamble of the bill sets forth the evils of abuse it is designed to prevent. It is to come into force on January Ist, 1896. From its coming into force all the acts relating to the sale of liquor are to be repealed. The administration of the act is to be under the Minister of Labour, or any other member of the Executive that the Governor may appoint. The State shall become the sole importer of alcoholic liquors, and shall be the sole purchaser of liquors made in the colony, but liquors made in the colony may be exported under certain regulations. The State shall determine the standard of all liquors. It may require licensed manufacturers to keep a sufficient quantity of liquor in stock, and for failure to supply may cancel the license. The Governor in Council may from time to time fix the price to be paid to manufacturers, and all shall receive the same price. After the passing of the act the Government may establish State bars, plainly fitted up, without private rooms, and in which only men are to be employed. Each employee will be paid a fixed salary. No person under 18 shall be served, and no person may make a lengthened stay in a bar, nor may any inebriate person be served, nor any one served on credit. No fresh licenses to sell will be issued after the coming into force of the act. Three months before the act comes into force a poll is to be taken of all persons in the district over 21 to determine (1) whether State bars shall be established in the district, and (2) if so, how many. There must be a majority consisting of three-fourths of the voters to forbid the opening of State bars, and a poll is to be taken every five years. All moneys which the State receives iti connection(with the liquor trade shall be paid into the consolidated revenue, and out of it shall be paid all necessary charges, while the surplus remaining is to be devoted to the support of Charitable Aid, industrial schools, lunatic asylums, deaf, dumb, and blind institutions, and co-operative industrial farms, and these are to be a first charge upvn the surplus.