LIQUOR, REFERENDUM

Evening Star, Issue 16907, 3 December 1918, Page 6

LIQUOR, REFERENDUM

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

A COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE.

[From Octk Pauuamxntahy Rkportisr.] WELLINGTON, December 3. Tho main provisions of the Licensing Amendment Bill (Hon. W. F. Massey), which was introduced in tho House of Representatives, aro exactly as forecasted in Ibis journal. * Tho voting paper for tho special licensing poll in April next is scheduled in tho Bill as follows :—- I vote for National Continuance. I vote for National Prohibition with compensation. The three issues at the subsequent licensing poll, if such bo necessary, are similarly set out : I vote for National Continuance. I vote for State Purchase and Control. I vote for National Prohibition. The voter must strike out two of the three proposals. Now rolls are to bo prepared for the purposes of the special licensing poll. Local Option is eliminated from ‘'wet’’ districts if there should be subsequent ordinary licensing polls, but No License districts may then vote on _ the question of local restoration, to bo decided by a three-fifths majority. Special provisions are made for taking the votes of members of tho Expeditionary Forces, and the validity of the special poll shall not bo questioned on t-ho ground of any irregularities or omissions, or if it should be impracticable for the vote of any soldier to be counted. The offence of personation at the special poll is punishable by a- tine not exceeding £SO or three months’ imprisonment. There is to bo a national halfholiday on polling day. If National Prohibition bo carried there cun bo no further licensing poll taken. As regards compensation, borrowing power is limited to £4,500,000, but the definite limit- to allotment by the compensation courts is not fixed in tho Bill, although such limit is obviously implied. Claims may bo made by ouo person or group of persons in two or more capacities, as when .a brewer is also the owner of hotel premises. No private person may import liquor for his own consumption ; but there is nothing in tho Bill making it an offence to retain stocks of liquor already in his possession when Prohibition comes into operation. If the people should declare for State purchase and control the Government will appoint a controller, and this officer will, by virtue of his appointment bo an officer of the Department of Justice. All licenses are to lapse on the determination of the poll, and liquor will be manufactured and rnld only by the controller and t-ho branch of tho Justice Department of which he is the head ; but the -State will not, because of the carrying of State control, bo entitled to extend the trade into No-Licenso districts. LIQUOR AND STATE PURCHASE. WELLINGTON, December 5. An interesting clause in tho Licensing Bill gives the Minister of Finance power to borrow any sum not exceeding £10,000,000 to bo paid into a special account to bo called the State Purchase Compensation Account, to be used—■ (a) For -the payment of compensation in the event of a determination in favor of State purchase and control; and (b) for the payment of interest and other charges m respect to moneys borrowed under this authority. The second rending of the Bill is set down for this afternoon.