THE COLONIST. Published DAILY, AUGUST 3, 1895. Nelson, SATURDAY, August 3, 1895. THE LICENSING LAW.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8317, 3 August 1895, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published DAILY, AUGUST 3, 1895. Nelson, SATURDAY, August 3, 1895. THE LICENSING LAW.

The Bill that has just been introduced by the Premier for the purpose of amending the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act is a distinct advance in the direction aimed at by the Prohibitionists, but although it contains some good provisions calculated to lessen intemperance, it opens up grave questions. As to the manner in which the licensing poll is proposed to be taken, the provisions of the Bill are such as commend themselves. This part of the measure is not to come into operation "until the day next before the day appointed for the first general election of members of the House of Representatives after the commencement of this Act." It provides that on the occasion of the next general election each voter shall be invited to record hifa or her as to vote : — (1) Whether the number of licenses in the district is to continue ; (2) whether the number is to be reduced ; (3) whether no licenses are to be granted in the district ; aod (4) whether no licenses are to be granted in the Colony. If there is no electoral poll in any district, the licensing poll is still to take place, and the whole cost of each licensing poll is to be borne by the general Government, a provision that will afford relief to local bodies. With respect to subsequent elections, it is provided that, if at any time Parliament is dissolved before it has been in existence two years, no licensing poll shall be taken at the election following such dissolution. Due precautions are provided against errors being committed by voters, but unless a voter strikes out two of the four proposals, his paper is to be regarded as void. After the close of the poll, the returning officer is to count the votes, rejecting informal ones, and if he finds that an absoluts majority of all the voters whose votes are recorded is in favor that the number of licenses shall continue, then that proposal shall be deemed carried ; while if, in the same way, an absolute majority favors reduction, then at the next annual lioensing meeting the Committee will have to reduce the number of licenses by not less than five per cent, or more than 25 per cent of the total number existing in the districb when the poll was taken. Those licenses which have been indorsed for breaches of the law are the first to be reduced, and next those in respect of premises where there is little accommodation, but the Committee in making reduction is to make such reduction to extend over the whole district in such manner as it thinks equitable, having regard to the convenience of the public. This latter provision, it is to be observed, may clash with the one preceding. A bare maiority will thus have the power to say whether the number of licenses shall be reduced, but in regard to "no license," whether \ for the district or the whole Colony, i not less than three-fifths of all the : voters whose votes are recorded must, in each case, vote "no license " • to render either vote effective. With ; such majority against the issue of < licenses in a district prohibition would become the letter of the law in * that district, but as regards the vote in favor of total prohibition in the a Colony if a tbree-fifths majority of the <- whole of the voters declare that no j license whatever shall be granted, a <■] prohibitionist victory will have been « gained. Under such circumstances no I liquors may be made in the Colony or imported, save by the Customs author- a ities, and suoh liquor can only be i dispensed by apothecaries for mcdi- d cinal purposes on the certificate of a B medical man, and even then only after it haa been rendered unfit for a c

beverage. Under this provision a man ordered by his medical attendant to take sherry may possibly have to take cod liver oil and sherry. Under this Bill clubs are practically to be placed on the same footing as hotels, no new bottle or wine licenses are to be grantel, and must be cancelled after the firs*, licensing poll following the 80th June next Under a wholesale license it will be illegal to sell less than four gallons of malt liquors, or two gallons of spirituous liquors or wine ;^ but no wholesale license may be granted if the prescribed majority declare in favor of no license. The license attaching to any house may not be removed or transferred to any place outside the same borough, ward, town district, riding, or road district ; and even then it may not be removed to premises five miles distant by road. It will not be obligatory to supply either a lodger or traveller with liquor on Sundays, and it will be necessary to prove that the person is a lodger or traveller. A penalty not exceeding ten pounds is incurred by any person who may Bupply a male aboriginal native while in a state of intoxication, or who supplies a female Maori with any intoxicant. If a prohibited person is found on licensed premises, save that he is there on business, or as a lodger, he will be liable to a penalty of £10 ; and any one procuring drink for, or supplying a prohibited person therewith, isliable to an equal penalty. That prohibition orders made against those who injure themselves or those dependent upon them by an undue consumption of liquor should be rendered strictly effective is only right, and it is also highly desirable that both Europeans and Natives should be safeguarded. But while intemperance may not be excused, the rights of individuals who neither annoy their neighbors nor become a charge on their fellows demand consideration. The Bill before us provides that a three -fifths majority may declare the practice j something approaching a lifetime, a practice that may have done no one wrong, to be illegal. It must be acoepted that a law that is not endorsed by the acknowledgment of the moral tense is certain to be 1 ignored or evaded, and -should prohibition be forced npon two-fifths of ths people, or even somewhat less, tbe law is pretty certain to be broken, and jits moral force impaired. That the i livelihood of certain people, indeed their whoie subs -ancs, ehould be rendered amenable to the votes of a few people oan scaroely be defended, acd from a moral point of view the State should, if it deems it advisable to prohibit that whioh it has previously eocoaraged, make some provision to guard againet loss. Under this Bill the possibility of prohibition is admi ted, but, we ask, has the Government prepared the way for meeting the revenue that, voder suoh ciroumBtances woald be lost, but which is needed if the Colony is not to make defau ; t ? We have no hesitation in s&yiDg that no practical thought haß been given to the question bow colonial revenue may be maintained under prohibition, or to the more local responsibilities, and nntil ample provision in respeot to both are arranged, it ia folly to contemplate the possibility of a catoh vote that may land the Colony in rain.

The Chdbchks. — Notices regarding tomor;o'd services at the Wesleyan, Congregational, and Presbyterian Ghurcu.es appear in another column. Entxbtainment at Wakefibld. — The tnys of St. Mary's Orphanage will give one of tbeir excellent entertainments at Wakefield next Thursday evening. The music supplied by the Band our Wakefield friends ehould ciot miss the opportunity of heari- g. Cantkbbubt College. — Notioe to students regarding the annual examinations in Oatobuappears in anotber oolumn. Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co., remind tbe public of their sile of Mantlepieoes, Farm Dray, Boggy, Poi>y Carriage Silk Handkerchiefs and Produce inoluding Bacon, Barley, Seed Potatoes &o. This day at 10 30. a.m. Conobegational Chubch.— At this church to-morrow the Bey, E. 0 Isasc will take for the subjeot of his morniog's discourse " Our Conflict " and in the evening he will preaoh on " Justification by Faith." The Bible claes will meet at a quarter to thiee* Football. — From various causes the H. Battery ia unable to place a team iv the field against the naval Artilllery on Monday, and the contempleted matoh ia therefore put off. H Batteby. — Lieut.-Colonel Pitt has reoeived the following telegram from Mr John Graham, M. H. B: :— « Government agrees to supply Nelson with two Nordenfeldt guns from Wellington. Premier promises they shall be Bent forthwith. Feel cure Battery will justify any promises on their bealf. Kindly inform '.aptain Hyde and Lieut. TopliS3. and congratulate the men." Public Holiday.— Monday next, being the first Monday in Augaet will, «c understand, be obeerred as a holiday. Most of the business establishments will olcse on that day. St Jonn Ambulance Association.— We learn that Dr Boor has completed the examination of t'jose who attended tbe first aid claßs for ladies, and that oot of 21 candidates twenty suooeeded in passing. On Wednesday evening next, the nursing course for ladies will be oommenoed, when Dr Hudson will be the leetarer, while on the succeeding Wednesday evenings leotures will be delivered by Drs Gibbs and Boberts respectively. Those ladies who have attended the first aid course are expected to attend tbe nursing course for which they bave the priviege without payment ol extra fee. Gakbison Band — Open Aib Pbbfobmancb. — The Nelson Garrison Band will give an open air performance in the Botanical Garden's Reserve to-morrow afternoon, commenoiog at a quarter to three. We anticipate that there will be a large attendanoe, aod that the consideration shown by the members of the Band will be largely appreciated. The programme of selections that will be performed ia as follows :— Quick maroh, Eo Bouts (J. Finney); Adeste Fide'.es, with variations (arranged by H. Bound) ; waUz, Herzenslut (0. V. Keller) ; selection, " L'Elisir D'Amore" (Donizetti) ; march, Canterbury Engineers (T. E. Buicb) ; Beleotion, "Torqaats Tas:o" (Donizetti) ; polka, Entre Nous (Eogene Bose) ; waltz, Butteroups and Daises (H. Bound); Goi Save the Qaeen. Concert at Biohmond. — A email party journeyed from town last evening, and gave \ very enjoyable musiaal evening at the Oddfellowa* Hall, Bichmond. The audience ivas not as large as the merit of the per- : 'ormance deserved, though it was counted : i very good audience for Biohmond. < rhat the progiamme gave pleasure there was imple evidence, and reoalls were the order I f the evening, favors being very tvon'y ' iistributed. The vocal soloists were Miss 1 3unt and Mr H. Kidson, who sang as a < luett " Maying, ' Miss Hunt also singing ' The Old and Young Marie," and " The i Promise of Life," and Mr Kidson •« Let me Jove Thee " and " The Gallant Salamander." i Che instrumentalists were Misses Dugdale 1 md Kidson, and Messrs Huffam and H. ( £idson. A couple of quart a i tes were ren- i lered by the oompany, Miss Dugdale and ; -diss Kidson played a violin duett, the former 1 b couple of pianoforte solos, snd the latter 1 wo solos on the v olin. Mr Huffam aleo i lontributed an amusing reading. I

Bey J. H. MacKhhzie will preaoh at Wakefield, on Monday evening. Football.— ln the Junior Cup matoh, Ne'son v. Piratrs, tbe following will reprint .heir respective clubs : — Pirates : Messrß Linkhorn, Barnett, Lev en, Liley, Hal', May, Brown, Spencer, Arnold, Allan, Graham, Smith, Friend, and BemDaat (2). Nelson : Messrs Barper, Harris, Milner, Richards, Brown, Levestam, Sbea, Glasgow, Tomlinson, Tayh-r, Johnßton (2), Burford, and Johns. — We understand that it is the intention of the bearers of the skull and cross bones to hold a social in about three week's time. At the siles to be conduoted by Mr Look, at the Central Auotion Booms to-day, at 11 o'clook, some ohoice fruit trees, Canterbury bacon, and a bicycle will oomo nnder the hammer.