Licensing of stills eased

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32660, 16 July 1971, Page 2

Licensing of stills eased

(N.Z. Press Association* WELLINGTON, July 15. A much more liberal approach was adopted in the licensing of stills under the Distillation Bill, said the Minister of Customs (Mr AdamsSchneider) in Parliament today.

Intrnd'icting the legislation! Mr Adams-Schneider said the bill orovided for licensing tn be restricted to fitiHs for! t'-e distillation of enirfts —. f-eluding tt-nse for fortifying! New Zealand wines and 1

for the rectifying and compounding of spirits. At present it is unlawful for any person to own or use a still for any purpose without a licence. Thus, no licence will be required for such equipment as chemical stills, water stills, dry cleaning stills and tar stills. The bill is a consolidation of the Distillation Act, 1908, and its amendments, and involves 100 clauses. It sets out the law much more clearly and simply than the I act. .

The main changes in the law are:

A number of provisions setting out in minute detail

the “course of distillation” are omitted. More flexible provisions are set out and the chief inspector of distilleries can approve procedures adopted by the distiller.

A distiller may make liqueur and other mixtures in his distillery without having to obtain a separate licence for a manufacturing warehouse under the Customs Act.

The power of an inspector to enter and search is restricted to distillery premises. Under the 1908 act he could also enter and search premises “near or adjacent thereto” as well as brewery premises and other places licensed for the sale of liquor.

The brewing or mashing of material for fermentation on Sundays and public holidays is no longer prohibited. The minimum fine and term of imprisonment for licensing offences are omitted. The maximum penalty, instead being $lOO as at present, will be either $lOOO of three times the value of excise duty evaded, whichever is greater. The maturation period for brandy and whisky distilled in New Zealand will be not less than three years the same as for imported brands.

The bill was referred to the Commence Committee for consideration.