LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16164, 28 August 1914, Page 7

LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS.

NEW REGULATIONS PROPOSED,

NO EFFECT ON HONEST BUSINESS,

(Fbom Ottb Own Correspondent.)

WRLUNGTON, August 27. Several new clauses -which have been prepared for insertion, in the Licensing Amendment Bill during the committee stage in the Legislative Council were ex-, plained by the Leader of the Council in moving the second reading of the Bill this afternoon. One of the new clauses is designed to secure a more effective regulation upon the sale of liquor in no-license areas. Mr Beil explained that, although the law requires a Tecord to be kept of orders received by any vendor for liquor to be sent into a no-license district, it does not demand the preservation of the original orders, and the record is open to inspection only by the clerk of a court. Another defect in the law permitted a carrier to conduct a sort of liquor depot within a no-license district. The proposed amendments require that liquor shall be delivered to the purchaser on the same day .as the liquor is taken into the no-license district; that each order shall be delivered only at the residence of the purchaser, and without unnecessary delay; and a copy of the original "order must be in the possession of the carrier and be produoed to any police officer on demand. No liquor may be sent into a no-lioense district without a written order, and these orders must be preserved by the vendor and produced for the inspection of the police. Mr Bell remarked that, though the proposed regulations would not in any way restrict legitimate business, they would certa : nly prove very troublesome to ajiy who were trying to evade the Jaw. « A curious anomaly in the law is to be remedied by another amendment. The Minister explained that though in each electoral district one returning officer conducted both the electoral and licensing polls, there was statutory provision that there must be a deputy returning officer for each issue at every polling place. The new clause provided that a deputy returning officer could handle both -polls at each •polling place. Mr Bell added that the amendment would effect a saving of £4000 at oach election.