LICENSING LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 13

LICENSING LAW

COMMITTEE ELECTIONS NOMINATIONS close to-day INCREASED INTEREST LIKELY With the election of licensing committees throughout the Dominion to take place on March 14, nominations for seats on the committees will close at noon to-day. Although the poll is conducted on „ a full Parliamentary franchise, comparatively little interest has been shown by electors in previous years, but there are indications that there will be greater activity on this occasion as the result of a decision of the New Zealand Alliance to nominate candidates for several of the Auckland committees.

The last election of licensing committees took place in March, 1936, when it was held by -Labour Department officials, after examining the provisions of the Licensing Act, that shops, offices and factories would not be required to observe a half-holiday. However, hotels were required, to close from noon, and certain Government departments also shut at that hour.

Voting Anyone oil the electoral rolls in a licensed district is entitled to exercise a vote at the election and, except'in the four metropolitan "areas, the licensing areas conform to the same boundaries as the Parliamentary electorates. In the cities, however, several of the central electorates go to compose a single district, the Auckland district, for instance, comprising the Auckland East, West and Central electorates. Besides a magistrate, who is the exofficio chairman, five members constitute a committee. In the event of less than five being nominated, the number is made up by the appointment of the necessary members by Order-in-Coun-cil. At the elections, facilities are provided for postal voting. Auckland and Onehunga As the result of dissatisfaction with the present administration of the licensing laws, the Auckland council of the New Zealand Alliance has decided to nominate candidates for at least the Auckland and Onehunga committees. The secretary, Mr. L. E. Falkner, said yesterday that the council was chiefly concerned with the city area, which contained the greatest number of hotels, and arrangements were being made to nominate a strong representation.

Although it is considered unlikely that Labour "tickets" will be nominated, several members of the Labour organisation will also be candidates.