THE LICENSING BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14349, 15 November 1910, Page 2

THE LICENSING BILL.

ITS MAIN PROVISIONS,

There are at present some anomalies in the Licensing Bill as it Las passed the House of Representatives (states a Parliamentary correspondent). As the Bill at present stands, the breweries in Auckland and Wellington should, in a few years, become perfect gold miues for under the -clause providing that 1.0 new breweries can bo establish.©*! within five miles of a No-license district, ''« new breweries, it is stated, can bo started in Wellington or Auckland. The Bill provides foij national restoration coning into operation t/hrco months after the date of the election. The same ameudment of course, shomd be made in regard to local restoration. According to the Bill, as it now stands, the determination of tlio electors for local restoration is to conic- into force on the day of the general election at which the poll is taken. 'll lis is an absurdity, because the declaration will not be made fill ten days afterwards. The Bill provides for a ballot on the question of national-.or Dominion option, which can only bo carried on a throe-fifths majority. The provisions in regard to local option are 011 the threefifths basis, as at- the present reduction issuo is done away with. Should national prohibition be carried, it will not take elreet till four years after the date of the poll. Should licenses be restored in a district they will bo in the ratio of not more than one to every 500 electors,' and not less than one for every 1000 electors. Should national prohibition be carried, the only liquor admissabls in the Dominion will be for medicinal, industrial scientific. and sacramental purposes. Barmaids will eventually cease to exist in New Zealand if the Bill becomes law, but those now engaged will b? permitted to continue their occupation. Brewers' depots must not be established within five miles of a No-license district. This provision is not expended to bottling warehouses established prior to the -carrying of No-license. The King Country remains a prohibition area, hut Europeans will have the right to vote on the question of Dominion option. Maoris are given the right to take a. looal option poll within uvy Maori Council district. The poll will bo decided on a. bare majority, and if c * ai ' r i heavy penalties will ho imposed on any person who auj)j>iie3 liquor to natives in the 'iistrict.