THE LICENSING LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18040, 15 March 1922, Page 8

THE LICENSING LAWS.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. FIRST MEETING TO-MORROW. COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY. [bx ielegiuph-own cobbespondent.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Parliamentary Committee appointed last session to consider the licens-

ing laws of tho Dominion will meet in Wellington on Thursday. The Prime Minister stated in the House of Representatives some months ago that if prohibition was not carried at the next licensing poll it would be the duty of the Government to make important amendments in the licensing laws. He was asked to let a committee of members investigate the whole question, and he consented. The appointment of the committee followed.

The task of the committee is to inquire into the working of the licensing laws and make suggestions for their improvement. Practically it will review the licensing legislation of the Dominion. A unanimous report may prove to be beyond the capacity of the committee since all shades of opinion are represented. The members are: Tho Prime Minister, the Hon. IS. P. Lee, Sir John Luke, and Messrs A. Harris, L. M. Isitt, P. P. Hockly, W. D. Lysnar, R. McCallum, 0. B, Statham, M. J. Savage, 0. Witty, and R. A. Wright. The chairman of the committee is Mr. Hockly. The committee will sit in private. The members will decide to-morrow whether or not they will take evidence. They will have a mass of material to consider in any case. The form of the voting paper at licensing polls, the length oi the period between polls, the distribution of licenses, the amount of license fees and the provision of accommodation for tho travelling public are among the questions that aro going to be raised before the committee.

the report and recommendations of the committee will be laid before Parliament next session. They will not be binding upon the Government, but they may be made the basis later of amending legislation.