CABINET NEARING DECISION ON LICENSING COMMISSION MEMBERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22917, 8 April 1949, Page 3

CABINET NEARING DECISION ON LICENSING COMMISSION MEMBERS

(S.R.) WELLINGTON, April 8. Cabinet has been discussing the personnel of the Licensing Control Commission, and a decision may be expected at an early date regarding the three members who will constitute this important body.

Likely Te Be Highly Paid Jobs Their salaries are to be decided by Ihe Government, and in view of the responsible nature of their duties and the very large amount of capital to be administered in a special fund created from goodwill payments for new licenses, the commission is likely to be one of the highest paid public authorities in the Dominion. The commission will comprise a chairman and two other members. One is to te appointed for five years, one for four years, and a third for a threeyear term. It will have the statutory powers of a commission of inquiry, for it will undertake investigations regarding the value of licenses, and will have power to require the presence of witnesses and production of documents. Distribution of Licenses

There are 043 publicans' licenses in operation, and the new Act includes a procedure enabling the commission to distribute them where they are most needed.

It will also be empowered to create 20 additional licenses, and if the 10year census enumeration indicates that the population has increased by 50.Q00, the commission may grant more licenses not to exceed in the aggregate one license for each complete 10,000 of the additional population. The licensing fund to he administered, by the commission, it is expected, will reach impressive proportions, judging- by file clause in the Act, which empowers the payment into the consolidated fund of any surplus over £500,000. However, in the preliminary stages, the Minister of Finance will provide capital as required. Then the commission will secure revenue from “fair prices” charged for the monopoly rights of new licenses. Assistance in Re-building

On the other hand, it will have to pay compensation where it cancels redundant licenses, though the difference between the compensation, and the goodwill payable for a license in a well populated area is likely to result in a considerable gain to the fund.

The power to require improvements in hotels is backed by the commission's right to financially assist licensees and it may go so far as to require a new building, the cost being advanced by the commission.

lit determining whether any such advance may be made, the Act stipulates that the commission shall have regard to the desirability of encouraging licensees to provide accommodation for the public at reasonable rates. Parliament will receive a report annually from the commission. This provision is regarded by the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, as important, because it will enable Parliament to take the responsibility of keeping abreast of requirements in connection with the licensed trade.

The granting of club charters comes within the scope of the commission’s functions. It will generally supervise the activities of licensing committees, and prescribe standards to be compiled with in the provision of accommodation, services and other facilities for the public and employees in licensed houses. Directions on these lines may be made by the commission to the licensing committees.

ORATORY CONTEST FOR SCHOOL PUPILS (P.A.) DUNEDIN, April 8.

Details of the oratory contest, which is open to all post-primary schools in New Zealand, were announced by the general secretary of the Overseas League, Mr. J. K. Milner, speaking at a meeting of the Dunedin branch of the league last night. The subject chosen for 1949 is “Empire Unity’ and area competitions in the four main centres will be held in July to select not fewer than eight finalists whp will compete in Christchurch towards the end of the middle term. More than 250 schools are eligible to take part. Each school is entitled to enter one candidate.

The first prize is a return trip to Australia with a fortnight’s holiday there as a guest of the Overseas League. There are also second and third prizes of one week's shooting or ski-ing to be arranged during the September holidays.