WHAT QUEENSLAND PROPOSES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 988, 11 February 1909, Page 22

WHAT QUEENSLAND PROPOSES

The Press Association reports that Mr. R. A. Ranking, police magistrate, of Queensland, who arrived in Welington by the Mokoia, has been specially appointed by the Queens'and Government to inquire into the liquor laws of the various States of the Commonwealth and New Zealand- Mr. Ranking states that the Queensland liquor law dates back to 188 5 and 1886. and, although a few amending Acts have s nee been passed, the Government feels that, the whole of the existing liquor legislation relating to the .liquor traffic is a Jittle behind the times. The Government of Queensland proposes to pass new liquor legislation, which will be based largely on Mr. Ranking’s researches. Mr. Ranking will conduct his main inquiries in this country on lines which may be summarised as follows: The general result in New Zealand of the diminution and total abolition of licenses in particular districts as regards the

visible effects upon social and civic improvements, the diminution in crime, the effect on customs revenue, and, generally, as to how the wellbeing of the community had been, or seemed to have been, affected; also as to the system of taking licensing polls, whether they should be taken on the same day as the general elections polling, and the majority required for carrying the issue submitted; as to the system of giving compensation for licenses removed, as to the discrimination, if any, between licensing fees in various portions of the same city, as to any system existing by which license fees vary in regard to the amount of trade done, as to the question of wholesale spirit merchants, Sunday trading, and the adulteration of liquor.