THE LICENSING ACT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9660, 13 June 1882, Page 2

THE LICENSING ACT.

An adjourned meeting of licensed victuallers and others interested in the amendment of the Licensing Act took place last night at Mr Joseph Chadwick's auction room. Present — Messrs Ancher (in the chair), Evans, Morrow, Mcllhone, Brennan, Jackson, Wixcey, Chadwick, and Suisted. The sub-com-mittee ("Messrs Ancher, Jackson, and Mollhone) submitted the druffc of a petition to the House of Representatives, of which the following is an epitome : — 1. Preamble — that the Act requires amendment. 2. Licensing districts to consist of undivided boroughs, counties, or road districts. 3. Licensing benches to be nominated, and not elective. 4. New Zealand wine licenses to be abolished. 5. Bottle licenses to be abolished. 6. "Wholesale licenses to provide for the two gallons to consist of one liquor only. 7. Abolition of extra £10 for midnight license, and suggestion that in boroughs fee should be .£25 for 10 o'clock, and £30 for 12 o'clock. S. Permission under a conditional license to sell at extra hours beyond those in publican's license. 9. Advertisements to be necessary only in the case of applications for entirely new licenses.

•10. Objectors to a license to give previous notice of objections, and applicants to be allowed adjournments of ' hearing without payment of costs. .11. License fee to be payable any time on or before 30th June. 12. Power to use any part of premises as a retail shop &c. 13. Outside lamp to be kept lighted during licensed hours only. 14. Freedom of contract between, publicans and barmaids — the latter to be employed in bar 10 hours only 15.- Innkeeper -to have the right to sell goods left in his charge two months for debt without necessity of advertising more than one. 16. 7 Meaning of "unlawful game" to be defined ; and permission given- to publicans, their families or boarders, to play cards, billiards, &c, without gambling,; at. any hours. 17. Fixed hour's x f6r opening on Sunday, Good Friday, and! Christmas Day. IS. Clubs to be licensed; at (say) £20 per annum, arid under; police supervision. 19. Abolition ofj endorsements on licenses. 20. No onej to be convicted of the sale or consump-J tiou of liquor merely upon suspicion or ; presumptive evidence. 21. Eight of,appeal to Supreme Court. 22. Abolition! or modification of clauses relating to; forfeiture of licenses, disqualification of i offenders, and disqualification of premises. ' The petition, with some slight verbal, amendment, was adopted. The sub- , committee reported that they had sent : communications,;- asking for the co- ; operation of the licensed victuallers at Dunedin, Auckland, Christchurch,:Wel; lington, Thames, Hokitika, Greymouth, Hawera, Patea, New Plymouth, Turakina, Marton, Feilding, Palmerston.arfd Halcombe. It was determined to make a collection from the various publicans of the district to defray the expenses of the petition, and Mr Anchor was appointed treasurer. Messrs McHhone, Ancher, and Jackson were reappointed a sub-committee to obtain subscriptions and signatures to the petition. The question of printing copies of the petititijn. for circulation amongst intending :subs3ribers,and other matters were post-' iponed for. consideration to an adjourned ■meeting, to be held at the same time and place, this evening. The meeting concluded with the customary compliment ito the chairman, and ; to Mr Chad wick for the use of the room. 1 ___—