THE LIQUOR LAWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4806, 22 August 1894, Page 2

THE LIQUOR LAWS.

The Government Licenmq Bill.

Tlio new Licensing Bill of pro Government was circulated yesterday. It consolidates,and amends ... the existing law. . TUB MCENSIXO VOIjLS, ,*V' The Bill provides that. the. licen- Y sing polls shall be taken on the day of every general election, aud in tlio same'mauner,.but the- voting paper is less cumbrous than that of the last, election.. ' ] :

The expenses of the poll are to bo paid by the State. The voting papers are to be different ill color from the general election ballot-papers, arid are to be sent after tlio poll to the clork of tho nearest Magistrate's Court. Special poll-clerks are to attend to tho .polls. Any dispute as to tho losing poll is to be determined as a dispute concerning a local election is settled under the Regulation of Local Elections Act, 1876. ' ' WHEN POMi.DECMRKD VOID, If one-fourth of the total number of electors on the roll do not vote the poll shall be void. At present the proportion is one-half. REDUCTION AND PROHIBITION, As at present, a baro majority of tho votes polled shall carry the reduction of licenses; and three-fifths of the votes polled shall be necessary to carry prohibition in any district.

If reduction is carried, the number of licenses to be reduced in any district shall bo not less than 5 per cent., and not more than 25 per cent., of the total number. Those licenses which have been endorsed for breaches of the law be tico, of are deemed affirmed, to gazette such not take effect, year at least after tho poll. cuius. ; • Tho Bill provides jhat clubynfiiy sell liquor onlynluring tho hours when licensed houses maysell. Clubs shall be subject to inspection. A provisional charter for ono year' shall be granted to a club before the permanent 1 charter is given. The consent of tho Colonial Secretary to institute proceedings against a club is taken away, and tho permissivo power to cancol a charter is made obligatory. A club charter Cannot bo granted for promises from which tho license has been taken away, or in a district whci'o prohibition exists. BOTTIiK AND WINK LICENSES.

Bottle and New .Zealand wino licenses aro abolished, save as to those existing, which may bo renewed till next poll.

RAILWAY LICENSES.

Refreshment-room licenses at railway stations ave also abolished, existing licenses to continue until the expiration of ihoir contract time, THE COMMITTEES. '

The Licensing Committee shall consist of the Magistrate, the Mayor of every borough in the district, the chairman of every town board, tho chairman of every county, tho chairman of every road board, the chairman of the Education Board, tho chairman of the Harbour Board,and the Charitable Aid Board chairmen,

The Magistrate shall be the chairman of tho committee,

Tho elective committees thus being abolished,.the issue submitted to tho electors at the local option poll shall be simply this Do you wish tho number of licenses tobo reduced 111 the district P Yes or no.

Do you ivish.any licenses to bo granted P Yes or no.

OTHER FEATURES OF THE MM,

There shall be 110 compensation for non-renewal of licenses.

In case of licenses-(for a popula-tion-increase in any locality, tho increase enabling a] license to bo granted shall be 10 per cent instead of 25 per cent,

A local authority losing its revenue by prohibition may meet the deficit by an increase of genoral rates,

Conditional licenses, for races, <fcc, may be granted by four members of a committee.

No alteration has been made as to the disqualification of women to hold licenses, further than that the wife of a lunatic is empowered to hold a license as if she were a widow.

The question of granting an increase of licenses after a census showing the increase of population is to be determined at thd poll occuring next after the gazetting of of the results of such census, when, if tho determination of an ordinary poll that licenses may in the district be in the affirmative, it is to be held also to aflirm also the granting of additional new licenses for every seven hundred head of such increase of population, Travellers must come from fivo miles away, instead of three miles,

I Twenty electors may demand an enquiry regarding a disputed poll. .The right of renewal of ut publican's license for three years is retained.

Prohibited persons shall be photographed at their own expense, and copies of tho photographs shall bo supplied to liotelkeepers. The exemption under the old Act in favour of private clubs meeting at hotels is abolished,

Selling adulterated liquor is.an offence under the Bill, liable to punishment by fine and endorsement, -

A licensee shall have only or.o bar. There shall be no post office at a publicliousc.

Licenses in Native districts shall be subject to the prohibition vote in the electorate. No new Native district is. to be created and the present districts may be reduced. 1 A wholcsalo license for fomented liquors shall authorise a quantity of not less:than five gallons to be sold. Wholesale licenses may be granted to auctioneers.

A; landlord fhd pjects an offending tenant may apply for. tho i: cancellation of on the licenso. .Authority..is given .to an owner to evict a tenant guiltyiof an offence which may ontail losi of tho liconsc, Tim.