THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1735, 25 July 1874, Page 2

THE NEW LICENSING BILL.

The following abstract of the new Licensing Bill is from the New Zealand Herald:—

Tbo new Licensing Bill circulated contains thirty-eight clauses. It does not repeal but amends Fox's Act. It declares every existing Licensing Court duly constituted, notwithstanding any informality in appointment, either in./ the Court or its individual numbers! -The same clause,.also validates all existing licences of whatever kind, granted under the Act, or in supposed conformity with it, and whether granted at times and in manner provided or not. Provincial Acts passed since last year, and not inconsistent with Fox's Act and "this one, are to remain in force. Provisions in last year's Act relating to the appointment of Commissioners is repealed ; but the provisions substituted do not differ materially ; the Governor fixes a quorum for each Court, and may, if he likes, remove any Commissioners from office Holders of licences may be allowed more than one public bar, but for every such additional bar an additional licence fee of one-third the ordinary licence fee is tobe paid. Wholesale and packet licences may. be issued by the Provincial Treasurer at any time. Br«we«' licences may bo issued under any Provincial Act recognising or requiring them. Where licence foes are municipal revenue, the Mayor issues wholesale and packet licences, each of which must have a year's currency from date. Packet licences may be issued for the colony, and not for the province merely. Wholesale dealers and brewers are still required to take out licences under the Distillation Act. Quarterly licensing meetings, with all powers appertaining to annual meetings, are to be held the first Tuesday in the months of December, March, June, and September' of each year, for granting, transferring, and renewing -licence*; notice of such meeting is to be given one month before, by at least three advertisements. Applications for licences to be lodged fourteen days before^ the date of meeting, and when application is made for the renewal of an existing licences. No householder's certificate is required. Bottle licences are authorised to be granted. Every holder of a publican's or bottle licence is to be held entitled to a renewal, as a matter of "course, unless it be proved to the Licensing Court that he has lost his good character, and the Court ia bound to grant a renewal unless notice of objection is given, and unless such notice, setting forth the grounds of objection has been duly-lodged with clork and a copy sent to the licencee. No applicant for renewal will be required to attend personally at the Court. Transfers may be objected to in th» Bame way as new licences. Licences issued in June are to date for a year from the Ist July following ; those granted at other licensing meetings, from the following month to the 30th June; a proportionate amount only of the annual licence fee to bo paid. The Chairman of the Court may at any time grant a temporary transfer to the purchaser of licensed premises, and the Court itself may authorise the transfer, of a licence to different premises. The legal representatives of a deceased licencee may obtain from the chairman authority to carry on the business. The It. M. in any district may at any time grant any holder of a publican's licence an extension, authorising him to soli at Volunteer encampments, races, fairs, games, regattas, cricket-grounds, theatres, music halls, or other places of public amusement, for any period not exceeding seven days, and may impose what conditions he likes. On the occasion of any ball, dinner, or other festivity in a licensed house the It. M. may authorise keeping open up to (qy. after) midnight. In case of a frivolous objection to a licence, costs may be given against the objector, but not against any officer of the police. No objection is to be heard unless notice hai been given, and no subordinate officer of the police is to make any objection not contained in the official report required from the chief officer of police. Persona giving false evidence before the Licensing Court may be indicted for perjury, and all orders made by the Court may be enforced by summary proceedings. Forms may be altered to suit 1 circumstances. The scale of authorised Court fees is described. The Minister of Public Works is authorised to grant licences for refreshment rooms at railway stations.