EARLY CLOSING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 9, 5 October 1917, Page 5

EARLY CLOSING

AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL

PROVISION FOR ADJUSTMENT OF

OF RENTS

. The Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill,' Vhich contains the six o'clock closing clause, vns returned to the Legislative Council yesterday by the Statutes Revision Committee. The hours of sale np-. "proved bvj the House of Representatives, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., remain unaltered, but tho committee has made important 'amendments in other directions. • The committee proposes that the Bill Shall come into operation on December 1, instead of November 1. A new section makes it clear that the lieduced -hours apply to New Zealand ;,wine licences, and accommodation licences. The provision for tho adjustment of Irente as between licensees and lessors .has been redrafted. The lessee (f an ' 'notel at.any time up to March 1, 1918. ■may require the lessor to reduce ihe rent 'of'the'■ hotel to an amount specified by (the lessee or else accept a surrender of Hhe lease. If the surrender is accepted, the lessor shall refund to the lessee a part of any bonus or premium that may have been paid, or '. agreed to bo paid, to the lessor or any other person on account of the lessor in consideration of the grant of tho lease •(including in such bonus or premium anything paid or agreed to be paid for ■goodwill), calculated by reference to'the proportion which the unexpired portion . of the term of such lease bears to the .■whole term of the lease: Provided that 'no person shall receive any greater amount than the proportion of. tho sum ■which he shall have paid to the person from whom .he purchased in respect of the unexpired' period of the lease." An adjustment is to be made in respect of furniture,' stock-in-trade, iates. insurance, and licence fees. ■>, If tho lessor does not within fourteen days either reduco tho rent 'to, the 'amount specified or accept surrender, the question of what reduction (if(any) shall be made in tho rent is to bo referred to arbitration. If tho parties cannot agree {■upon a single arbitrator there will bo ' two arbitrators, who will appoint an umpire. ' . Provision is made for adjustment in .' the case of sub-leases.

Hotels May be Closed. -■• A new-clause provides that "notwithstanding anything to tho contrary contained! or implied in the Licensing Act, •1908, or in any other Act, tho licensee of any licensed, premises may, with the consont of the l owner and mortgageo (if any), and of the Licensing Committee, ■upon proving to the satisfaction of- such committee that tho business of the licensee cannot bo profitably earned on therein, close his licensed premises and •keep the same closed during tho continui ance of this Act, without prejudice to his ri"ht to apply for and obtain, at every annual meeting of the committee, a cortitrate of renewal of his licence; and, lirovidod that he shall have paid his licence fee during each year, he shall be entitled at any time while this Act is in •force, while 'holding a certificate, to open ■ the premises and thereafter to carry on his' business therein as if his business bad been carried on without interruption." ■ ~ , During the hours whon licensed premises are required to be closed no liquor shall be sold at or removed from any place whero the ■ bolder of a wholesale licence is authorised to sell- and .'ehver lif t uor - „,.„...„., „,,,,., ,

Chartered Clubs.

The application of the now _ hours of. sale to chartered clubs ib .made 6tringeut. If an inspector reports to the Minister that liquor is being supplied in a chartered club during the hours •when licensed clubs are required to be closed, the Minister shall cause e.n inquiry to bo held by a Stipendiary Magistrate, and, if the Magistrate finds that liquor 'has been so supplied under circumstances which in the case of the conviction of a libensee of licensed _ premises would, in his opinion, have justified the endorsement of lic ß nce,..the charter 1 of. the club shall bo forthwith revoked. . . . ■ ~„,, Provision for Meals. . Another new clause provides that .persons inay be on licensed between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 6 P nr and 10 p.m. for the purpose of taS breakfast or dinner. They must not bo supplied with liquor and must not enter the bar or private bar.