THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1462, 22 November 1879, Page 8

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

The following are the principal suggestions submitted by the delegates of the various Licensed Victuallers' Associations for the purpose of being embodied in the Licensing Bill to ropeal all tho existing Acts :—

Licensing Courts to bo appointed by the Go vernor, and to consist of not more than seven nor fewer than three, who shall hold office for two years. The Governor shall proclaim licensing districts. No brewer or dealer in alcholic liquors or in^ partnership with such person shall be qualified to be a member of a Licensing Bench. All present Licensing Courts to continue in operation till constitution of Courts under this Act. The quorum of Licensing Court to be fixed by the Governor. Any unlicensed persons Belling liquor to be liable to a penalty of not less than L 25 nor more than LSO. The wholesale and brewery license shall enable holders to sell spirituous liquors in not less than five gallons, to be consumed off the premises. Conditional license means one applied for outside any city or borough. Packet licenses may be granted to masters of vessels. Wholesnle, brewers', and packet licenses may be issued by the mayor or chairman of any city council, borough, or county at any time. Licensing meetings to be held quarterly. Notice of application for license to be given at least 21 days before the day of meeting. Notice of Annual Licensing Court to be advertised three times in a local paper one mouth before meeting. Licensing Courts may exercise discretion in granting or refusing license. No license to be granted if opposed by two-thirds of tho ratepayers in the neighbourhood, but the Court may demand security from petitioners. Owners or others beneficially interested in a house losing its license to be compensated, the amount being at the discretion of tho Court, and paid out of the Consolidated Fund and local revenue respectively. Personal attendance not necessary to procure renewal of license. All licenses, except wholesale, brewers', and packet licenses, may be transferred. Purchasers of licensed premises may obtain temporary transfer of licenses. Licenses may be transferred to other premises. Business may be carried on by executors in certain cases. Chairmen of Licensing Courts may grant an extension of licensas for races^ &c. Persons giving false evidencebef ore Licensing Courts to be guilty of perjury. Government^ may, if necessary, proclaim special licensing districts on goldfields and outlying districts. Contracts made with Jgirls to dance in places where alcoholic liquors are sold to be void. Barmaids shall not be employed in the bar more than 10 hours out of the 24. Refreshment licenses at railway stations may be granted. Publicans need not keep a light burning outside all night except where no public lamp is kept burning in the street. Clubs to pay registration fee of LSO per annum, and not to allow any liquor to be taken off the premises, under a penalty of L 5 for each offence ; persons selling without a license to be fined L2O, and all liquors found on the premiaes to be forfeited. Any person offering for sale adulterated liquor to be liable to a penalty of not less than LlO nor more than LSO ; the liquor to be open to seizure, and any J.P. may order it to be analysed at the expense of the person convicted of the pffence. No person holding a license under this Act shall cell or allow liquor to be drunk on his promises except between the hours of six in the morning and ten at night on any working day, or one p.m. and threo p.m. on Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday ; but commissioners may issue 12 o'clock licensas upon payment of an extra fea of LlO. and all-night licenses upon payment of a further additional LlO. Bonafide lodgers and travellers to be supplied with liquor at all reasonable times.

In Cuba it i 3 proposed to import from 25,000 to 30,000 Chinamen yearly, and to bria« from Spain and tko Canary Islands 10,000 workmen, continuing the importation in this manner until the number shall have reached 400,000 men. These will be paid their passage and nupporfced for ten days after arrival, during which time iij is considered, they may find work,