THE LICENSING BILL.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 64, 13 September 1904, Page 6

THE LICENSING BILL.

80ME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. Several amendments to the Licensing Bill have already been given notice of. Mr, Moss will move now clauses providing that no dealer shall be in possession of impuro liquor under a penalty of £100, and that every receptacle containing liquor shall bear a label setting forth tho substances used in the manufacture of the liquor. Further, any ded for liquor contracted in contravention of this provision shall not be recoverable at law. Another clause which Mr. Moss will propose to add to the Bill will be ono providing that no Committee shall havo jurisdiction to grant a lice nso or tho renewal of a license to any person except the owner of tho premises unless he producos a lease of the premises for the term of tho license at a rental not exceeding 20 per cent, por annum of the true value of tho promises free from all rates, taxes, and insurance, and free from conditions respecting his purchase of any commodity. A series of clauses rogarding tied houses has also been givon notice of by Mr. A. L. D. Ffnsor, lie proposes that agreements for the tenancy of licensed houses shall be absolutely void until confirmed T>y a Stipendiary Magistrate, who mnst refuso confirmation if ho finds that the deed contravenes the tied house clause 35 of the Alcoholic Liquor Salo Control Act Amendment Act low, or tho tied house clause (58) of this Act, or that it contravenes any provision of the Licensing Act, or that it is contrary to oqnity and good conscience, or that its terms aro not fair, reasonable, and bonafide. Penalties aro provided for a breach of these provisions, and if tho landlord commits a breach the licenao may also be endorsed, while a second offence by the tenant disqualifies him from holding a license for five years. Leave of appeal to tho Supremo Court against tho decision of the Magistrate is provided. With regard to clause 9, the Premier has received tho following telegram : — "Auckland temperance orusadors consider Nw Zealand Alliance attitude incxplionblo and opposod to genuine prohibition principles, and hope you will force clause 9 and- let -the people decide question. — W. Richardson, Chairman." The Auckland Mothodist Ministers' Association has passed a resolution embodying its objections to tho Licensing Bill. 'A' "similar •„ motion' has- also -beenadopted by- the Invercargill Temperance) Reform Council. The Liconsing Association of Otago and Southland has drawn, up a number of suggested amendments to tho Bill. • /\. Conference of- temperance workors in Auckland resolved (says a Press Association, message) .to strongly urge .the Parliamentary -representatives oT tho 1 province to oppose the elimination of tho reduction voto; also clauses 9, 10, and 24 of the Bill.

Tho Hutt County Council had before it this morning a copy of the Eastbourne Road District Bill, under which tho ratepayers of Muritui and other bays on tho eastern side of the harbour arc seeking separation from the jurisdiction of th« Hutt County Council. Under tbo Bill no rates will be- chargeable by tho Council in tho new district, and tho latter uldo nsks for full control of the road passing through iUt area. Councillors took exception to the latter provision, us they interpreted the section of the Bill to mean that the Road Board desired to have control of tho main road, but the Couitcil would hay« to. maintain tho roadway. Councillor Townsend did not think this was intended, and he had no doubt the promotero of the Bill would amend it so aa to state explicitly that the Board would control and maintain the road. He eaid the residents) in that district had made the seaside resorts the popular places they were to-day, they had not been too well treated in the past by the Council, and their preoent action waa a natural outcome of that treatment. Councillor Town■ehd further suggested that the difficulty might bo overofrttw by means of a conference between the ratepayers and the CouncH. Councillor Wofcenam thought the whole trouble had ariaeu through tho Maritai district not having had proper representation on tho Council in the past, and this should be remedied as soon as possible by the election of a Councillor from Maritai. The Chairman (Councillor Mangavin) protested against tho multiplicity of local bodies, which was becoming « serious question. The examplo of Muritni would, no doubt, -be followed by other districts, which would pick the 1 eyes out of the County and leave the Council with miles of non-revenue producing roads to maintain. Ultimately, the Council decided to inrite the promoters of the Bill to meet in conference with Councillors Mtmgavin, Townsend, Bould, and Wakeham at 10 a.m. on the 21st mat. An elderly woman recently applied to the Benevolent Trustees for aid. The Trustees made enquiries which indicatcatod that the applicant had owned two sections in a southern, town, and had made them ovor to her daughter, who is in service in Wellington. Tho daughter appeared before tbo Trustees to-day, and was informed that if she handed over the deeds to the Trustees, they would kfsp*her mother; if she would not, she mnst keep her mother. The daughter stated she would hand over the dcods. It" is not known what the sections aro worth. H. Spear, M.P.0.C., oyo specialist, has opened sight-testing rooms in tho Morcantue Exchange Buildings, Manners-street, whero he may be consulted daily. A salvage sale is announced by Moi»r». George Thomas and Co. for next Friday, at 11 o'clock, when a, catalogue of galTaniied and barbed wire, woolpacke, salt, olotlxvi pegi, brooms, American axes, (jtc.. saved from the late fire, will bo disposed of at the Fruit Market, Harrit-streot, without reserve. Full particulars appear in* our auction oohtmns. Mown. George and Korsley announoo thoir twonty-firitt spring sbow and display of novelties. They he^vo secured the services of the Wellington Garrison Band, and ■elootiont will bo rendered during the evening from 7to 9.30 o'clock, Tho programme of musical selections appears in another column - The Wellington Auctioneering Company is advertising for Thursday next, at its rooms, 49, Lambton-quay, a sale of furniturn and effects. The lot will bo sold without Tesorvs. ■ '.Th«. OomjflGrci*l Agejioy (Ltd.) calls. for tenders for the purchaso of tho drapery •look of ' Messrs. Gibson. 'and Whincop, of tli a 0.D.0., Manners-street. Beeston Hutnbor ladies' or genlt' bieyolos fitted with Humber brakes and freo whool. latest model, price £25. Tho reaBonabie price of this machine is duo to M"r. F. N. A. having made a large contraot in - Eng4«nd- for this ■ world-famod aiaohine. Call sn4 inspoot.— Adams Star Cycle Co.. 'Meroei -street. Easy terms arranged. — Advt. The b.s. Duchess will run special excursions to Day's Bay to-morrow morning and afternoon at the usual hours. Full timetable appears in another column. MexsrSi Sidsy, Moeoh and Co. draw attention to the sale of a, new shed on the premj«e«i - Stout-rtreet, to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock sharp; the same firm advertise that they have received instructions from the owner, who it leaving Wol lington, to sell on the promises, 17, Homerircel, on Thursday, 15th September, tho whole of the household furniture, piano, etc. An invitation "social" takes place at New Centnry Hall: ' to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock.