LIQUOR CONTROL.

Mataura Ensign, 17 April 1917, Page 7

LIQUOR CONTROL.

EXPERIMENT IN VICTORIA. One of - the most interesting experiments yefc attempted in liquor licensing legislation has just completed its lirst stage of 10 years in Victoria, and most people who have surveyed the results deem them eminently satisfactory. Prior to 1906 Victoria had the uncertain and inequitable local option law. As iu New Zealand, the inadequacies of the system were pronounced, and something better was sought. So an Act was passed having lor its object the reduction of the number ol hotels, the improvement of the quality of those that remained, and the lah compensation of the hotelkeepers lorcod out of the business. The system, which was to be tried for 10 years from 1906, was roughly as follows: —-The number of licenses in each district was fixed on a .population basis, and all-licenses in excess of the stipulated number were to lie gradually cancelled. There were then 544'8 licenses in Victoria, -winch total was 1308 in excess of the number to be permitted. The compensation payable to owners and licensees put out ot business was based on the value of, the hotel during three years prior to 1906. A Compensation Eimd was created by an annual levy of 3 per cent, of the liquor purchased by each hotelkeeper. As many of the . excess hotels were, to be wiped out each year as- the money, uims made available would a,llow. A Licenses Reduction Board took charge of the experiment. , . The 10 years expired on December 31. In that time ,£645,045 was paidi into the Compensation Fund, and with i £610.851 of this 1054 hotels were de-1 licensed. When the' Board started on-, orations almost all the districts were over-licensed, and as the Board’s policy was to cut into the drinking-shop and the hadly-conducted hotel, there was keen competition among hotelkeepers to appear pleasing in the sight _of the Hoard. The effect from a public point of view, was excellent. But as ■ the Hoard's operations continued the number of districts not over-licensed increased, and these licenses, having no particular inducement to be otherwise, were in some instances guilty of unsatisfactory conduct. .With the expiry of the 10 years, Victoria was to revert to the local option system, and the first vote was to bo taxen at the first general election alter January, 1917. Tile Licenses Reduction Board lias become a Incensing Court. Bui, on account of the war, the first local option poll has been postponed until the second general election after January, 1917, and the, ■ Licensing Court hits been instructed to proceed in the meantime “as if reduction had been carried in every licensing district throughout tin' State.” the licensing Ci>nrt is now proceeding with enthusiasm to deal with those, licensees nho 'have been conducting tbc'r houses in a disreputable 'manner, and defying, the Licensing Hoard because tlicy. ’thought they were sale in an under-licensed district.