The licensing Bill

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1102, 24 September 1904, Page 3

The licensing Bill

Further Discussion

Liquor in No-License Districts

Rummy Amendment

Person May Import Quart of Spirits Per Day

Amendment Carried

Ity Telegraph.-I'rpw f> ■•«wi,it'-»..

Wellington, thin day. In the Houso yesterday afternoon, m moving tho recommittal of tho Liconsing Acls Amoudmont Bill, to rooonsidor cor tain clauses and proposals, Mr. Seddon said that when tho Bill had gono finally through committeo it would be submittod to tho law draughtsman, and tho third rending of tho Bill would not bo takon until ho roturned from his visit to tho West Const. With regard to tho" club locker" clause, which had boon addod to tho Bill on tho previous evening, Mr, Seddon statod it was not intended to do anything to interfere with Friendly Societies and kindred bodies, and that later on tho clanso would bo absolutely clear on that point, In tho course of a abort discussion Mr. Massey, in referring to Mr. Seddon's intention to further amend ciauso 11 t" effect of no licence") said they wore having too much restrictive legislation altogether, and tho public would slronlgy resent it. HfTbclioved that what tho House had done during tho last low days would havo the offect of croating more prohibitionists than anything also which bad been done for many years, Mr Seddon retorted that ho did not believo the people would retaliate simply becauao tho Legislature was taking stops to ensure that tho law should bo observed, and that was nil his proposed amoudmont to clause 11 amoimtod 10. Mr Dnthio said tho talent displayed by tho Premier in connection with this Bill qualified him very well to carry on the government of a country like Riißsia. j:',Mr Seddon's motion for recommittal to reconsider clauses 11,20, and 07, and some now clauses, was agreed lo on the voices. Mr Willis moyed to recommit to' onablo him to move a! new clause providing for tho c'osing of hotels throughout the colony at 10.80 p.m. This wtis lost by Si) 1011. A proposal by L'v Witty lo recommit olauso 40, dealing with bona Qdo travollcrs, was lost by 40 to 19, Mr, Massey moved to recommit clause 15, with a view of having licensing poll petitions heard by two Judges of tho Supreme Court instead of threo magistrates, This was lost by 38 to 29. ""A motion by Mr, flcko to reconsider the Stato control clauses, which had boon struck ont of tho Bill, was lost on tho voices.

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE Tho Houso then wont into committeo on tbo Bill, Clauso 11 (•' effoct of no lieenso'') was first considered, Tho Premier moved a series of amendments, providing that everyono who gives an order for liquor intondel to bo soul into ano liesnse district must notify the vendor of tho fact that it is intonded to bo sont or taken there, and that tho vendor must send a statement of tho sale and,its destination to tho clerk of tho Magistrate's Court. Every vendor of liquor must koep a book in which uius. bo entered a full account of all liquors sont into no-licenso districts, and the names of tho persons to whom they are sent; and such book must bo open to inspeetion by tho authorities, The omondnjont proposed a maximum penalty of £'so for a breach of any of tho provisions, or cancellation of license if the offondor is a l'conseo; and it allowed a rosidont in a no-licenso district to tako liquor into tho district for his own personal use to tho limit of r quait a dny. After somo d scussion tho amount of tho penalty to bo imposed on a resident for breach of the Act was alterrdlo £2O for tho first oflenco and £SO for tho second offence. ■ The penally on tho licensee was fixed at £SO for the first offence, I*loo for the second offence, and cancellation of tho license or fino of £2Q for a subsequent offence,

As to tho quantity of liqnov a private person may tako into a no-lieenso district, Mr Soddon moved to alter his clause bo as \to enable ft person to carry into tho dia•jriot a quart of spirits or ono gallon of beer in any oue day for personal uso. Ibis was agreed to. Mr lames Allen moved an amendment to make we redactions imposed by tho clarteo Oporaiivo in tho King Country and any other block of nntivo land proclaimed to be a" no-!ifieiisc" ! district. Tho discussion was interrupted by tho 5,30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7,80. In couiuiitteo on tho Licensing Bill, tho following proviso was added tothochuiso: " Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent any duly registered pharmaceutical chemist within any no-license electorate from dispensing alcoholic liquors in medicinal quantities for medicinal purpose?, upon prescription, signed by a duly registered medical practitioner." Tho cliuiso as amended was added to Ihoßill, and progress was thou reported, On tho motion of the Premier, who stated that he desired to gel tho Imprest Supply Bill through that evening, after considerable discussion an Imprest Supply Dill for i'(i« 6,500 was passed through all its Btnges. Mr Seddon said he inlcndod to visit the ■yVest Coaßt next wot k, and would bo absent for a week, and that tho Licensing Bill would not bo proceeded with further until ' his return. The Houso rose at midnight.

A DUNEDIN PROTEST

"THEBILL A BURLEfQUE."

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunbdin, this day.

'i! i'conscd victuallers ciuphatioally conn .ii; the proposed coinpsnsation fund b\ c; .'.ributions from remaining licensees, lii a u-iro to Mr Millar, M11.R., they say: "The opinion hero is that (ho Bill is absolutely worthless, Wo rogaid ths whole thing as a burlesque,"