THE LICENSING BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9212, 15 April 1908, Page 1

THE LICENSING BILL.

LONDON, April 14,

Earl Carrington states that if the Licensing Bill is defeated, it is nearly certain that there will be no further licensing legislation this generation.

[Fkom Ovs. Correspondent.] LONDON, March 6

Mr Asquith's Licensing Bill, if passed in the form in which it/ wae introduced, will abolish thirty thousand publichouses, a third of the whole number .in this country, allow no compensation to license-holders after fourteen years ; give local veto on new licenses ; extend the bona-fide travelling distance on Sundays to six miles; subject all clubs to inspection by/plain-clothes police officers; restrict Sunday opening t and otherwise make sweeping changes in the licensing laws. Qn-licenses, beginning at once will be gradually reduced by one-third— by 30,000 or 32,000 out of the present total of 95,700. They, will be reduced (roughly) to one in every 600 or 800 of people in towns and one in every 400 to 500 in the country. The present average for England is one per 370. After fourteen years no compensation will be paid for a license which is taken avv. ■'■ '

Meantime compensation will be paid on the basis of a sum sufficient .to buy an annuity for tile unexpired part of twenty years, 'equal to the annual value of the license taken away, plus a sum to the license-holder for the loss of business. The local authorities (the Justices) are at once to prepare a scheme for the reduction of licenses in their districts. A Central Licensing Commission will control the compensation fund, -which is raised (as at present) by a levy on the " trade." This commission will revise and approve the licensing Justices' scheme of reduction. | In large boroughs there will no longer I be appeal from the Justices to quarter sessions against refusal or renewal of licenses. By a majority vote in a special poll in any district, the inhabitants may for three years refuse any new licences. The Justices may attach, as a condition of the license, restriction on Sunday opening, barmaids, admission of children, and the sale of drink on election days. Outside London, publichouses on Sunday shall be open only one hour at midday and two hours in the evening. The bona-fide traveller must go six. miles instead of three as at present. Clubs must be registered annually, to allow objection to be raised before the Justices ..against their management. of superior grade in plain clothes shall have the right of entering j all clubs. By a poll districts in Wales [ may decide on even a further reduction of' licenses than the Bill decrees.