THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

ENGLISH ROYAL COMMISSION.

The draft report of the English Eoyal Licensing Commission has been issued to the members of the Commission. It js understood that it is of a drastic character.

Among the reforms sketched out are the following: —

A reduction of licenses. Should this be effected, there will be a time limitgranted of from three to five years before any public-house is closed.

No interference with the hours is likely to take place, but it is recommended that the licensing authorities be given power to issue six - day licenses only.

Sunday closing is not proposed for England, further than it is in force at present, but it is possible that the bona fide traveller will be able to obtain liquor south of the Tweed at specially licensed hotels only during the Sabbatical hours when publichouses are shut. This is the law in Scotland, and it will probably be extended south of the Tweed.

The Gothenburg system has found no favour in the sight of the Commission, and there is no likelihood of its introduction over here, except as an option of local veto. Experiments with local veto may be recommended over selected areas in Scotland and Wales.

The present custom under which two magistrates may grant occasional licenses on private application will be changed, and all applications for licenses will have to be MADE IN OPEN COUET. There will be a tightening up of the system of transfers, blank transfers probably not being permitted in the future. All clubs will have to be registered, and safeguards are proposed against public houses which have been closed by the licensing authorities reopening immediately as clubs, and thus evading the law. It will most probably be- proposed that the age limit of minors to whom! it is lawful to serve liquor be fixed at sixteen. Grocers and chemists may in the near future not be allowed to sell liquor. The elective element will most probably be introduced into all licensing boards, and local authorities may be given greater power than in the past to control the liquor traffic in their districts. j

The licensing laws of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are treated in separate reports on account of the distinctive legislation in the different countries.

Viscount Peel's draft will, it is understood, be received with general acceptance by the moderate members of the Commission, and will be issued without any material alterations, with the signatures of the majority attached; but two minority reports are mostlikely to be appended by the extremists, one signed by the extreme liquor men, the other by the extreme temperance men.