DOMINION LICENSING LAWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 7

DOMINION LICENSING LAWS.

REQUESTS BY ALLIANCE. INTENTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. [lit TET-EGRAriI. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "WELLINGTON, Friday. A largo deputation from the annual meeting of llio New Zealand Allianco waited upon the Prime Minister, tho Rt. lion. G. W. Forbes, to-day, in reference to several aspects of tho licensing laws. It was asked that tho existing licensing laws should bo consolidated into two sections, ono dealing with the referendum and tho other with regulative provisions; that tho law relating to illegal trading should bo more rigidly enforced, that tho Minister of Customs should bo empowered to rofuso to grant a licence for a brewery, that motorists found drunk in chargo of vehicles should bo more sternly dealt with, and that tho Government should undertako educative work in regard to the effects of alcohol. In reply, tho Frimo Minister said ho quito recognised tho importance of tho matters brought before him. He realised that in some they had a good deal of cause for complaint. For instance, there was the question of brewery licences. Until a test case in the Court it had been thought that tho Minister of Customs was in a position to refuse the issue of a licence, but as a result of tho Court's decision it was shown that tho power was not in the hands of tho Minister. Since then, ho had intimated to anyone who mado application for a licence that the Government intended to bring in legislation placing tho matter in (lie hands of tho Minister. The question had also been raised whether persons were entitled to distillery licences in Now Zealand, but Mr. Forbes made it plain that tho Government intended to take away any right that might' have been thought to exist, lie felt that the Government should have discretionary power in such cases. Legislation would definitely be introduced next session. So far as the administration of tho law was concerned, Mr. Forbes said the Minister of Justice was endeavouring to • see that tho law they had on tho Statute Book in regard to the liquor trade was enforced. Mr. Forbes said he was in agreement with the deputation as far as intoxicated motorists were concerned. No punishment could be too drastic for a man who endangered tho lives of others by bocoming intoxicated.