The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1882. THE LICENSING ACT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 205, 1 February 1882, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1882. THE LICENSING ACT.

The remarks we made in our last issue to the effect that it was piobable that no new public-houses could be licensed until June, have received official confirmation. The clerk to the Beuch at Patea has notified applicants for licenses for new houses that their applications cannot be entertained until the month mentioned, and refers them to the 55th clause of the Licensing Act as his authority. The clause is aa follows : — •' After the end of the month of December next, new publicans' licenses, New Zealand wine licenses, accommodation b'censes, and bottle licenses shall be granted only at the annual licensing meeting, to be held in the month of June in each year." We apprehend that that sets the matter entirely at rest. This provision will, to our knowledge operate very harshly on individuals. Everyone is required to make himself acquainted with the laws under which he lives, but nevertheless very few do, and iudeed he must be a remarkably smart man who can keep pace with a Legislature which gives us fifty or sixty new laws every session. Many of the persons who will have a grievance under this provision commeuced to build after the new law was passed, and though they can hardly excuse themselves for not having become acquainted with the position of affairs, they will receive the sympathy of that vast majority of the people who would have been equally liable to fall into the same error. Probably, the lawyers would tell us that all sorts of dreadful things would happen if the legal maxim to which refereuce has been made were interfered with ; but still to the lay mind it would seem a very advisable thing that, at the tormuiatiou of each session, the Govern-

ment ebould publish a sketch of the newly-made laws. It is usual to compile such a document to be forwarded to the Home Government, and its piiblication in the colony would be of no little advantage to the public.