PUBLIC- HOUSE BILL.

West Coast Times, Issue 110, 24 January 1866, Page 3

PUBLIC- HOUSE BILL.

A bill to amend the present licensing law h:\s just boon read a second lime, and committed, in the Provincial Council, [t was considerably altered in committee from the form hi which it was originally introduced by the Government. The Bill itself is not before us, but we gather that it proposes to enlarge- tho discretionary power of magistrates in granting, renewing and withdrawing licenses, and to impose more stringent conditions on tho holders of licenses with reference to the provision of accommodation. • By tluwe who opposed the measure it was predicted that it would haw* the effect of shutting up tho smaller chiss of houses. An amendment against tho magistrates having an arbitrary power of refusing the renewal of a licciW, \vji-: moved by Mr Oilivier, but lost on division. A proposal lo reduco fc'io sum for hotel licenses from .C-;O Ui £20 was negatived. On tho motion of Mr. Aynsley, J.io sum of .6101) for a general licence was reduced lo .C 75 as regards tho Province :it large; but Mr. B.U'A'kucoictlod. in i-airjinjr » lnrthcr uinondnipnl, fixing the sum for n general licence- in the gold-Hold district at £35. An amendment by Mr. lluwkeji, reducing tho sum for a wine and beer license from J.i'o lo £10, was agTcocl to.