Select Committee Has Amended The Licensing Bill

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1948, Page 4

Select Committee Has Amended The Licensing Bill

King Country Europeans Can Have Club Charters By Carrying Poll

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—When the Licensing Amendment Bill was reported back 1o the House of Representatives today by the special select committee which had been considering it, the Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) gave the following summary of amendments written into the Bill by the committee :

The commission may require remaining licensees in an area to contribute toward the compensation payable to the holder of a suppressed licence. Procedure on the allocation of new licences is rearranged. It is made clear that tourist house licences and works canteen licences may be granted, irrespective of a dry area. Restoration polls are to be taken in the Ashburton and Geraldine areas in successive election years, if required. Club charters may be issued in the King Country if a European vote is carried, irrespective of whether the Maori vote is. Pending the polls the Minister of Internal Affairs may grant licences to existing clubs, but their subsequent fate will depend on the poll and subsequent determination of the commission. The clause for after-hour permits is rearranged and a similar clause is inserted dealing with restaurants. This will permit a host to provide wine for wedding guests in a restaurant at night. A clause is inserted making it clear that an ordinary smoke concert is not illegal. Another clause makes effectual the law against tied Mouses. The power .of licensing committees is strengthened, and they are given a right to call for agreements with managers, lessees and tne like. Provision is made that winemakers may blend their wines with those of another grower. A clause extends the power of welfare officers to Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act and the chairman of tribal committees and tribal executives to apply for a prohibition order in the case of. Maoris. LIQUOR AT SOCIAL GATHERINGS An important new provision makes it lawful foi liquor to be supplied and consumed at social gatherings on unlicensed premises. This applies to all unlicensed premises except restaurants. There is a stipulation that not less than 20 persons shou d be present. A number of conditions also have to be complied with. The persons present must be members of the organisation by which the social gathering is held, or be guests specially invitedNo charge is to be made for liquor at the gathering other than the charge for admission, and this charge must be reasonable. The profits must belong to the organisation, and no individual is entitled to any such benefit, either directly or idl.-ectly. In prosecutions for breaches of these conditions the burden of proof will be on the defendant. However, j these provisions do not affect the existing legislation relating to liquor at dances. CLUB PERMITS Chairmen of licensing committees are authorised to issue permits to the holders of publicans' or accommodation licences, or to the secretary of chartered clubs for the consumption of liquor at social gatherings on those premises held after the normal closing hour. Similar permits may be issued tor the consumption of liquor at social gatherings in restaurants after hotel closing time. The title of the commission is changed from the Liquor Control Commission to the Licensing Control Commission. Where licensing committees have ordered licensees to make improvements to their premises these may be financed from the special licensing fund which is to be established.

A new c’ause gives power to the commission on cancellation of a .licence to require tlie remaining premises to contribute to the licensing fund. It may require payment of such a sum as it thinks fair and equitable by reason of any' increase in profits which will, in its opinion, accrue to the remaining licensees as a result of the cancellation or surrender of a licence. It can order such compensation to be paid in one sum or in instalments. If any licensee neglects or refuses to pay the amount due into the licensing fund it shall be recoverable in the courts. The commission may also direct a licensing committee to suspend a licence until the amount is paid. In authorising the granting of a publican's or tourist house licence the fommission may define the locality or he area. A procedure is defined for applying for licences and the hearing of applications- The power of the nolice to apply for cancellation of licences, which was previously confined to a publican's licence, is extended to all licences. TIED HOUSES There is a new clause affecting tied houses. Every applicant for a licence, or for transfer or renewal of a licence, shall, if required by a licensing committee, produce all agreements and documents relating to the premises, on furniture, chattels, or stock. They may also be required to disclose to the committee any written or oral agreement under which the licensee is required, or bound to obtain, his supplies of liquor from or through a particular holder of a brewer's or who'esale licence, or one of a number of holders of such licences. If any agreement exists under which the licensee is entitled to some concession or benefit a licensing committee may make an order declaring that the licensee shall not be bound to purchase such liquor from these sources, but he shall still he entitled to a concession or other benefit. A licensing committee mav also make an order • varying the provisions of an agreement. Anv party has a right to apply to the committee for such variation. Those orders 7'i.all have the effects of court orders. ■ Tourist house and works canteen | licences mav be granted in no-licence I districts. Restrictions on the sale of wine are altered, WINE SALES. In the original Bill private sales could not be made in quantities or more than two gallons, but the committee has removed this from the Bill. A licence or club charter, however, is still required. Restoration polls are to be. taken in Ashburton and Geraldine as in successive election years if required. Prohibition on the drinking of liquor on public conveyances is extended to harbour, lake, or river ferries ror which no packet licence is held. N Club charters may be issued in the King Country if a European vote is carried, irrespective of whether the Maori vote is carried or net, or whether the electors are in favour of the trust proposal. Another new clause ' provides for the granting of temporary charters in the King Country by i the Minister of Internal Affairs at i his discretion should the propovl that licences be issued m the King Country be defeated at the poll. These temporary charters shall expire 11 days after declaration of the result of the poll. | DEBATE ON TUESDAY. I Answering a question by the i Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland). the acting Prime Minister I (Mr. Nash), said that debate on the I Licensing Bill would begin on Tuesday. He hoped that other Bills on the Order paper would be disposed I of by then.