SIX-YEAR POLLS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1926, Page 10

SIX-YEAR POLLS

RESTORATION REFERENDUM

H" PROHIBITION CARRIED.

The Licensing Amendment Bill introduced by Governor-General's Message in the House of Representatives yesterday is a measure of 30 clauses. The Bill provides that simultaneously with the licensing poll to bo taken at next General Election a special poll is to bo taken to doterminc whether future licensing polls are to bo taken every three years, or only at every alternate General Election. The voting papers on this issue are to be different in colour from the ordinary licensing .voting papers and ballot papers, and the questions to be submitted to the yoters are as follow: —

I vote that a Licensing Poll bo 1 taken once in three years.

: I vote that a Licensing Poll be '[ taken once in six years.

' Tha voter must strike out the proposal for which ho does not wish to vote. A long clause doals with the machinery for a recount where tho result of a poll is disputed. B/LKE MAJORITY VOTE. The special poll to determine the frequency of licensing polls is to be decided on a bare majority vote.

If there should be a dissolution of Parliament before tho expiration of the usual three-year term the ensuing cx.traordinary General Election shall not be taken into account in determining at what General Election a licensing poll shall be taken. Paragraph b of section 12 of tho principal Act provides that if at any time Parliament is dissolved before it has been two years in existence, then at the taking of the electoral poll for the pew Parliament np licensing poll ehall be taken, but the result of the licensing poll taken at the then last previous General Election shall continue in forco until such licensing poll is again taken simultaneously with the electoral poll next after the dissolution of such new Parliament.

The Bill provides that if .the sixyear proposal is carried a licensing poll shall not be taken earlier than the second General Election for members of Parliament held thereafter, but shall be taken, simultaneously with that election unless the provision of paragraph b of section 12 of the principal Act appiy. NATIONAL RESTORATION. In the event of National Prohibition being carried, clause 3 of tho Bill says^ that at the next General Election at* ■which under ordinary circumstances there would have been a poll on the licensing issue, a poll is to be taken on a proposal for national restoration of licenses. This poll is to bo taken on the bare majority basis, and if Bestoration is carried it shall come into operation within three months after the date of the poll.

Licensing Committees are then to be reconstituted. The elections of the committeos are to take place triennially and the number tf licenses granted shall not exceed one for every 500 electors or less than one for every 1000 electors. "Unless objection ia raised, preference in granting licenses ia to bo given to those who previously held them. After Eestoration comes into force licensing polls will thereafter be .taken iiTaceordance with the Act.

In cases where licensed premises have ty reason of a change in boundaries been included in a No-licensing district, and have been subsequently excluded therefrom, a poll may be taken on the question whether a new license shall be granted in respect of such premises. A poll shall not bo taken, however, unless 10 per cent, of the electors of the district present a petition to ■the Governor-General by 30th June of ; the year in which the licensing poll is to be taken.

No voting paper used at any Hconsing poll that clearly indicates the proposal for which the voter intended to vote shall be rejected as informal.

The Bill empowers registered chemists to supply liquor for medicinal purposes, and their rights in this respect in No-license areas are safeguarded.

DEFINITION OF BARS A public bar is now defined as any room, passage, or lobby open immediately to any street, highway, public place, or public thoroughfare wherein liquors may be purchased, and "pri,vate bar" is stated as meaning any bar other than a public bar, and includes any part of licensed premises which ia principally or exclusively used for the sale, supply, or consumption of intoxicating liquor.

Every publican'a license granted or renewed after the passing of tho Act shall authorise the use of one public bar, and the Licensing Committee may authorise the use of one or more private .bars, the number of the latter to be specified in the license.

In addition to the fees prescribed in the principal Act, an annual fee of £10 shall be payable in respect of each priyate bar authorised."

A publican's license shall not be granted to premises not already licensed if situated within a borough having a population of more than 10,000, unless iuch premises contain for public accommodation at least twenty rooms, in addition to thoso required for tho occupation of the licensee and his staff. Incensed premises may be required to provide sufficient hot water service.

Section 181 of the principal Act in regard to the prevention of drunkenness on licensed premises is extended to holders of New Zealand wine licenses.

Seven days' notice has to bo givon of the intention to apply for a conditional license, and an inspector may object to the issue of a wholesale or conditional license. Application for conditional licenses, or wholesale licenses, must be dealt with by the Licensing Committee after a police report has been received. Provisions for the transfer of retail licenses will also apply to the transfer of wholesale licenses. EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN. The restriction as to the employment of women in bars has been reconstituted to provide, that no woman* shall be •mployed in or about' any bar unless she is the licensee, or the wife, daughter, mother,; or sister of the licensee, or a womanl bona fide employed on licensed premises with the approval of the Licensing Committco as the housekeeper of a licensee, who is an unmarried man or a widower.

The law is stiffened in regard to unlawful sales of liquor, and it is also provided that a £10 penalty may be imposed on every person, whether the holder of a license or not, who supplies or allows to be supplied by purchase or Otherwise any intoxicating liquor to anyone under the age of twenty-one years. A similar flue ißay bo imposed on anyone who falsely represents himself to be twenty-ono years old or older. It will be lawful, however, for any paront or guardian of a young person or anyone acting with their authority '(but not a license holder) to supply a £oung porson with intoxicating liquor, and a licensee, with tlio authority of jthe parent or guardian, may supply ijqupj to a jqung person, resident on tbe

licensed premises, or who is a bona fide guest or lodger thereon. In licensing offences tho Court is given power to order the production of the license for endorsement. Tho liability of licensees for offonces committed by their servants is to be definite, unless it is proved that in committing them they were without their knowledge or connivance, and that all reasonably practicable measures by way of personal supervision or otherwise were taken to prevent the commission of tho offoncos.

The provisions of the licensing law relating to tho prohibition of supply of liquor to Natives in proclaimed areas are extended to cover Polynesians.

Tho register of barmaids is to be transferred by tho Secretary of Labour to the Commissioner of Police, and eivery unregistered barmaid is liable to a penalty of £10 for every day on which she illegally serves liquor. Licensees will bo required to keep a register of their lodgers, containing their names and addresses. Any person who enters false particulars will bo liable to a fine of £10. The register may be inspected at any time by any inspector of licensed premises. PASS THIS SESSION? "Will the Prime Minister say whether he proposes to get through by the end of this week with the Bills on the Order Paper?" inquired tho Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) when the Licensing Bill came down. "He may also tell us whether he, proposes the House should continue sitting after ho leaves for the Imperial Conferonce, for it will apparently be necessary to do that for at least three weeks or a month after the right hon. gentleman goes." "As to whether it will pass this session," replied tho Prime Minister amidst laughter, "personally I don't see anything controversial'in tho Bill, but what hon, members may bring up is another question altogether." (Renewed laughter.)

Mr. Holland: "Did tho party caucus knock all the controversy out of it?"

"I don't know that the party caucus considered any portion of. the Bill," replied the Prime Minister. , Mr. P. Frasor (Wellington Central): "Are all tho parties agreed on any portion of the Bill?" (Laughter.) The Primo Minister: "I hope so." (Laughter.) "Is your party agreed?" asked Mr. W. S. Glenn (Eangitikei), of Mr. Fraser.

Mr. Holland: "We have not seen it yet."

The Primo Minister said that up to the present there had been no opportunity to consider a Bill of the kind. The House had been working hard and well. Members who had been longer in the House than he had been would recognise that the House had been kept very busy.

"Does it provide for a half-holiday for hotels?" inquired Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East).

The Prime Minister replied that the Bill did not apply the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act to hotels.

Mr. Lee: "Wo'll put that in in dis> cussion."

Amidst laughter, Mr. Coates informed Mr. Holland that it was hoped to put the Bill on the Statute Book this session.

Mr. J. A. Lee: "If you introduce five-year Parliaments, would that be sis years?" (Laughter.)

The Hon. A. D. M'Leod: "No; it would be ten years then." (Laughter.)