REVISION OF LICENSING

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4951, 4 February 1937, Page 4

REVISION OF LICENSING

AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED. STATEMENTS TO DEPUTATION. Christchurch, Wednesday. Indications that the Government was considering an early revision of the licensing laws in New Zealand was given to-day by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, replying to the representations of a deputation from Ashburton asking for consideration for what was termed an anomaly in the legislation affecting the district. Mr.- Mason told the deputation that he hoped the licensing laws might come under revision at an early date and in that event he would bring to the notice of the Government the representations made to be considered with others. The Government had a substantial programme of social legislation to put into effect, and consequently it was not possible to say with confidence how soon attention could be devoted to the licensing laws. He hoped the time would not be long before consideration could be given to the matter. He could not say what the decision of the Government would be on any particular point. The case for the deputation was that Ashburton had lost its license while it was part of a no-license area. It was now in a licensed area and so had no restoration poll and the people were thereby disfranchised on the licensing poll.