QUEENSLAND LIQUOR LAWS

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13342, 6 February 1909, Page 10

QUEENSLAND LIQUOR LAWS

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON*, February o. Mr K. A. Ranking, Police Magistrate, of Queensland, arrived, in Wellington by the Mokoia to-day. Mr Ranking has been specially appointed by tho Queensland Government to enquire into the liquor laws of the various States of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Mr Ranking states that ttie Queensland liquor law dates back to ISSo, and although a few amending Acta have since been passed , , the Government feels that the whole of tho existing legislation relating to the liquor traffic is a little behind the times. Tho Government of Queensland proposes to pass new liquor legislation which will be based largely on Mr Rankings researches. Mr Ranking will conduct his main enquiries in this country on linos which may 'be summarised as follows: —The general result in New Zealand of diminution- and total abolition of licenses in particular districts as regards the visible effects upon social and civic improvements; the. diminution in crime; tho effect on Customs revenue, and generally as to how the Troll-being of the community had been, or seemed to have been, affected : also as to the system of taking ing polls, whether they should be"taken on the same day as the General Election's, polling, and the majority required for carrying the issues submitted: as to the. system of giving compensation for licenses removed; as to the discrimination, if any, 'between the license fees in various portions of tho same city; as to any system existins by which license fees vary in regard to the amount of trade done; as to the question of wholesale spirit merchants, Sunday trading, and the adulteration of liquor.