H—3B

The purposes of this amendment were — (1) The conservation of the supplies of sugar ; (2) The control of the alcoholic content of beer ; and (3) The protection of the revenue. 312. Until these regulations were brought into force there was nothing to prevent any person from using as much sugar as he liked in the brewing of beer, to the limit ■of his ration, quite apart from using it for priming or conditioning the beer when bottling it. 313. The Minister of Customs allowed two exceptions to these regulations. It appears that the quality of the malt made from the barley of the 1944 season was generally poor, and the Minister permitted, from the Bth December, 1944, to the 31st March 1945, the use of sugar in the production of worts in an amount not exceeding 4£ lb. of sugar to every 40 lb. of malt. This concession was granted on the basis that the additional sugar was within the brewer's existing quota under sugar rationing. 314. The second exception was made by the Minister when on the 26th day of June, 1943, he gave permission to brewers and bottlers to use up to 3 lb. of sugar per hogshead of beer for priming purposes (R. 321 and 2949). It appears that some bottlers—for example, those in Hawke's Bay —who were bottling beer brewed in Dunedin had difficulty in making the beer keep after it had been carried a long distance. A general authority was, however, given in respect of all beer. Administratively it may have been difficult to do anything else. 315. The Customs Department presented the following statement of the quantity of beer and stout brewed in excess of a specific gravity of 1036 during the years 1943 and 1944 : 1943. 1944. Gallons. Gallons. Stout brewed over 1036 S.G. .. .. 63,676 64,379 Beer brewed over 1036 S.G. .. .. 1,236,993 1,298,223 Total brewed over 1036 S.G. .. .. 1,300,669 1,362,602 Percentage of all beer and stout brewed .. 5-417% 5-384% - (R. 1225.) Hours of Sale, Service Contracts, Advertising, Repairs, and other Matters 316. We refer now to the reduction in the hours of trading and to some of the provisions for the increase in the powers of regulating the trade and to the provisions for relief from repairs. 317. The Licensing Act Emergency Regulations 1942 (No. 2), (1942/186), made on the 22nd June, 1942, imposed certain restrictions upon the trade. By Regulation 2 all licensed premises were to be closed on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. of the following Monday, and on the nights of other days from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. of the following day. 318. By Regulation 8, provision was made for the cancellation of a publican's license for a breach of the Licensing Act or of the regulations, or of the conditions of the license, or for permitting the licensed premises 'to be frequented by disorderly or disreputable persons, or for permitting drunkenness, or the illegal sale of liquor, or if the licensee were not a fit and proper person. 319. By Regulation 15 it was provided that the failure to maintain the licensed premises at the standard required by the Licensing Act, 1908, should not prevent a renewal of a license or the grant of a new license if the Licensing Committee was satisfied tliat the failure was due to the war. 320. By Regulation 17, contracts for the management of licensed premises in respect of which a publican's license had been granted were made unlawful if the contract provided for the payment of remuneration at a rate determined or affected by reference,

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