A QUEENSLAND VISITOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 425, 6 February 1909, Page 6

A QUEENSLAND VISITOR.

.TO REPORT ON OUR LICENSING LAWS. .'.. ■ :.h INQjDiRY.. ■-:-:: • V Among, the passengers who!"arrived from' V: Sydney;by the -Mbkoia 'yesterday was Mr.'R. :.-': Ai Ranking, - S.M.y of Brisbane, who has been} ■ appointed, by-the Queensland. Government to "'• report' onthe' , effect - ' of the , licensing law in 3 New-Zealand. 'This is the outcome of'a-'feel- \ ing thaKexists:in.that : State,,.which;is taken ':', {to .;indicate., that the liquor -laws now;,;in '. force?there, , -'which date'-'back 1 to .1885 are 1 somewhat -.. behind .: the: -■-. times; •'::? -and J . .that"-- >the i : '\ time! is ; : approaching., when-' ' ■ fresh'-.■ 'liquor ' laws :•"■ must,. ..be . oon- ';• sidered'by Parliament. At present! there is.a. '■. restricted-local option issue which can 'be ', exercised on the petition of a.certain number. J Of, ratepayers, at which poll only'ratepayers • (male;and-.fbmale) may : yote,.;but strange, to j say "this'privilege has not been' taken' advanf, tagie": of, and : Qie. question■'■ seemed ' to:, be ; whether' v or hot' a,compulsory -poll on the; ; ! ■ ' questionVshould. not betaken., It is to adduce ' as'to the ■.efficacy of- ourMicensing j l laws'that-Mr. Ranking, makes his. visit, and j " his report will'no doubt be 1 awaited with'conV- iSiderable. , ; interest.;; ', : -'. ; ; - ; .-■'.-'■ i?" I: .V.."What.l .want,"-said,-Mr. Ranking,, "are .facts which 1 will .show me: fairly .conclusively;; ■.. -tiiat)-NQ:Licehse;!in .thoße district where!.it r- .has. ;i ; been !.';tried for -some : tiniei' f has :' .contributed' to prosperity : o£ that place.'< ■;• ; N&-License:; -people.•. .will :., doubtless .-tell •; -me -.that ■■..the; ■ whole, of- -the: ,pros- :' ~per:t,y,." ;, ( (if .V'an'y) :-is". attributable.. ;to ■ . : .■No-License. , -;. , . But';! 'can ; ' quite - conceive: that I, i.here may ; be;'4nfluerices apart altogether-from. '; would .materially- ', ~ }s'.i . tp' !'• froW-that of' no ..liquor. i that will beYpart of; my" duty.: ;The diminu- ,'■ tion- in', crime! is another factor that'l';, will. ! jendeavpur-to. get statistical information : upbny, v and also;!the 'amount of ■: liquor, consumed in> a ''■ -NorLicehss ; ;district! 'us compared V with. the ! .cpnsumption.lbefore No-License' ' '.foti.r'.am;-told that'the! figures!.for the : . ;min.ion| : sh'6w...that.;a ; greater!amount of. liquor ■ is ■:nQ)v i ,vbeipg;;.c,onsumed,,V;th?in.j-_before! ,No- ( . '' License-;was'.carried!in>,the districts affected. '.: :■"-. The >'C matter-;'<>f". fees... for, ■'. licenßesV'Sunday tradihg,'.'.and!';the : Hendorse-T ' r !ment, : ofilicenses';will 'also!receive, cpnsidera-', ': :tion.w ; yj>W;;^? wJif;. \' ■':'■■■-■:'■ .-•!■■:,- -, ; / ;,./"There are.;several excellent , !'features (in' ■j , wHei' , .bpmmend I .selves,to:ine;'' one in.particular;being, that-re-' : gardingv-tied. houses,... but :,oh the 'other ; hand. '■ there> : ai;e'.!features -whichi'-.: d&.riotL .. I; must . . .view jthe effect Of ;,!No-License broadly over the-Iwhple---of .^the'-Dominion,! arid -tryvto produce proofs'-in 'support , 'of .the! recommendations '■ in: •' -my' fep'OTt." v i&!';!v^-; ; V- ' ';'.' .Mr.'fißanlnng: states-.that,' c6ntrary]'tb;'what, bbtai.ns(in-,N.ew.; Zealand,; the; Licensing' , Com-: mitteesrof... Queensland', obtain.. a" fee of £10^ •■ !p'etVaMnm'-!fpr^e'^,,Tjar v in''avhbfwlr':inste'ad'. ;: of ;chafging. oneVsum';: for a : .. hotel. ;'■•. To eluci- ' ,date.vmahy.,;6f.'the. : points; ; Mr;■ Rankirig-'will ,• '.v.isit" ! |-Ashburtonj";:.Cluth'a ) ! Irivefcargi'l i■' : an3 ; \: other! districts!;where. the;effect: 1 of No^Licen.se. ! .h^as'.bwn"felt.!'^:T^ : :Will' be'acquired; in ':■■'.' : - s :;1