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Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 709, 3 January 1903, Page 2

ENGLISH LICENSING LAW. A precis is given in the Press of the new licensing law that comes into force in England this month, the following being a quotation In charges of permitting drunkenness on licensed premises it will no longer he necessary for the prosecution to prove that the intoxicated individual procured drink on the premises on which he was found. His presence on those premises will be taken as prima facie evidence that the publican permits drunkenness, and on him will lie the onus of proof that he and

his employees took ever}- precaution against allowing drunken persons to

remain in his house. That the importance of this clause is fully recognised by the “ trade ” may be gathered from the advice —tendered almost in the form of an order—in a circular ssued by publicans’ trade protection society, in which the new Act is carefully explained. In this circular publicans are urged “to constantly scrutinise every person in the bar. and iii every corner and compartment of the bar.” The trade at Home evidently recognises the importance of “ reform from within," as the best means of protecting it from attack. This is also shown m the appeal made to license-holders to keep dear of convictions. Under the new Act, there will lie no endorsement of licenses for convictions, hut a register will be kept in which every offence of which a publican is convicted will he entered up. This will lit laid before the justices whenever the question of transfer or renewal of a license is brought up, and the applicant’s record as shown therein will be taken into full consideration. The trade are, therefore, urged to keep their registers clean, ami in ilie event of a conviction to appeal if there is a fair chance of success. The betting evil is a matter of greater consequence at Home than here, where it seldom, if ever, enters into flic licensing question. In England, prosecution of publicans for permitting betting to he carried on in their houses have greatly increased. in view of tiffs growing danger, tiie trade are strongly advised to forbid any person known or suspected to lie a betting man to use the house. It is assettea to be useless to rely on tiie promises of these men that they will not indulge in betting, for “ sooner or later trouble results.” Safety can only be secured hv, as far as possible, keeping the men out of the house altogether. It is also mentioned that sport'ing papers .should not be kept on the premises, as tlicit presence in a house weighs with flic Bench in cases of permitting betting to take place.