View report page

169
Sale of Whisky Bill.
Presented by Mr. Williamson, ordered to be printed
18th February, 1907.
The object of this Bill is to secure to purchasers of whisky a clear
statement whether it is a whisky made in a pot still from pure malt, or of
malt and com, or is in part a spirit made in a patent still from unmalted
grain. To carry out this object the Bill proposes to enact that all whisky
shall, from the time of leaving the distillery till sold to the consumer, be
described by a mark or label on the cask or bottle as " whisky " or " blend
of whisky and patent still spirit," as the case may be. Provision is made
for similar information being given to persons purchasing whisky on
draught.
Under the existing law the Inland Revenue are furnished with
returns of the materials used in each distillation, and they have, by means
of the permits or certificates required on the removal of spirits and the
stock books required to be kept by rectifiers, dealers and retailers, the
information necessary for tracing the whisky till it reaches the retailer.
Power to prosecute for offences against the Bill is therefore given to
officers of Inland Revenue, but persons authorised by local authorities
having the execution of the laws relating to food and drugs are also to
have power to prosecute, and are to be supplied by the Inland Revenue
with the information necessary for that purpose.
Weekly Rest-day Bill.
Presented by Mr. Goddard Clarke, ordered to be printed
6th November, 1906.
The object of this Bill is to provide for each person who is working
or an employer having the twenty-four hours of Sunday as a rest-day in
each week, or when Sunday labour is necessary to have one Sunday of
twenty-four hours uninterrupted in a fortnight, and the day before or the
day after the following Sunday to be a free and uninterrupted rest-day.