BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, 11 April 1908, Page 5

BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Following are the principal clauses in * Mr Asquith’s Licensing Bill: . • | Onrlicenses, beginning at onee, will be gradually reduced by one-third —by | 30,000 ' oi* - 32,000 out of the present total of 95,700. 1

They will be revjjiced (roughly) to 1 in every . 60Qr800' of people \in towns and' Ito every 400-500' in the country. ' The present .ayeragefor England is 1 ’ ' 1 per 370- : V .. _; '■ ■ / . After fourteen . years, no - tion will be paid for a license which is taken away. 1 '• /" ■ '" r -J .'Miwatiine compensation.'will be'paid. oh 'thie basis of a sum sufficient to buy an anniuty, for the uhfexpiarhd/part of ’f twenty. /years, ; ’ ' /ib’ ■ the annual * Value’ of the license taken away, plus 1 £ ram: to .the license-holder. for the loss { of : business. !

: r The Ideal authorities (the justices) are at once to i prepare a scheme for the reduction of licenses in their district. . - J ’

: A 1 Central Licensing Commission will 4 'cbntrol'the Comperisation Fund, which is; raised (as at present) by a levy on ' the “trade.” < " - - ?

- This/Commission will revise l and approve -fcKo licensing jUgiicts’ scheme of reduction.

Ih large boroughs there will bo longer be appeal, from the -justices to quarter sessions against refusal or%enewal *of licenses.. ; . . • . . >

. By a majority v.ote ip a special poll .in/ any .district the: inhabitants' may. for three years/ refuse . Tny hew licenses. , The;justice j somay>a'tt«Ph» hs{a condition of the; licehserireßtriction on Sunday opening, - barmaids, /admission of children, and the .sale of drink on election days. ; Outside London public-houses on Sunday shall he open only one hour at midday arid two hours .in the evening. The bona-fide /traveller must: go six miles, instead of' three as at. present. ; Clubs must’he registered annually to ' allow - objections to he -raised before the justices against their management. . Police; of x superior grade clothes shall have the right of entering all . - .