LICENSING REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18455, 19 July 1923, Page 10

LICENSING REFORM.

CORPORATE CONTROL PLAN.

LIEU OF STATE CONTROL.

PREMIER PRESENTS PETITION.

[by TELEGRAPH.— REPORTER.} WELLINGTON. l Wednesday.

A petition that in the next licensing referendum the existing issue of State control be replaced by that of corporate control was presented in the House of Representatives to-day by the . Prime Minister, on behalf of Canon P. T. Willams and 5200 others. Details of the proposal, which is the outcome of a conference of representatives of certain members of the Anglican clergy, the New Zealand Moderate League, . the associated clubs, tho. brewers, the wine and spirit merchants, the licensed victuallers, and the freehold owners of hotel properties, are set out in the petition. It is proposed that the ownership of licensed premises and the manufacture, importation, and wholesale distribution ofl alcoholic liquors in . the Dominion be exclusively vested in a corporation, which shall have a nominal capital, divided into shares equivalent in amount to the value of the assets taken over. Twenty per cent, of the shares will bo '* A " shares, and 80 per cent. " B " shares. . The "A" shares shall be allotted to the Government of New Zealand without any payment in cash, but shall bo paid for by the dividends accruing upon them. No dividend paid to the shareholders of the corporation shall exceed 10 per cent. All excess profits shall be applied to national purposes, such' as the extinction of the national debt, payment of hospital subsidies, etc. The corporation shall be directed solely by a. board of nine " practical and experienced men," five (including the chairman) nominated by the Government, and four by the "B" shareholders. It is proposed that if the electors adopt the proposal outlined above, no' further poll shall be taken for nine years. It is proposed that legislative power be given to the corporation to act as the sole authority for the issue of permits to sell liquors and to appoint district boards upon which'tV licensees shall have direct representation. The corporation, it is suggested, shall have no power .to increase or reduce the number of licenses or the existing hours for the sale of liquor. The corporation shall have power, on the termination of any lease, to grant a permit, instituting the cafe. system for the sale of light wines and beer where it '■ may be deemed advisable to restrict the, sale of spirits; and also to have power to grant special licenses for the manufacture of wines to be sold exclusively to the corporation. The scheme shall not apply to chartered clubs. It is proposed that on the adoption of these proposals, no further poll.upon the subject shall be taken for nine' years.