Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 503

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Those are the regulations attached to public-house licences ?--Yes,

Then there are no regulations regarding the quality of drink to be supplied on the premises?—There is the provision about adulterated liquor in the Ordinance.

Is that the only regulation regarding the quality of liquors ?—No, there is also the Food and Drugs Ordinance, 18 of 1896.

But I mean in this Ordinance, 21 of 1886 ?--Yes.

The regulation or rather the definition about adulterated liquor is as follows:- "Adulterated liquor shall mean any liquor mixed or coloured to the prejudice of the purchaser with any ingredient whatever, or with water, either so as to increase its "bulk or measure, or so as injuriously to affect the quality of such liquor, or to "conceal its inferior quality, or any liquor which is not virtually of the nature and "quality demanded by the purchaser, or of the liquor which it is labelled as being or purported to be, whether such adulterated liquor be injurious to health or not. Spirits shall not be considered to be adulterated if mixed with water only so as not "to reduce the strength more than twenty-five degrees below proof in the case of brandy, whisky, or rum, or more than thirty degrees below proof in the case of gin." Except for that definition the quality of the liquor is not touched upon in the Spirit Licences Ordinance, 21 of 1886 ?—No.

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There is other legislation with regard to adulteration in the Sale of Food and Drugs Ordinance, 18 of 1896 ?—Yes.

Does that apply to liquors as well as to food and drugs?—Yes.

"The term food, when used in this Ordinance, shall include every food or article "used for food, or drink by man, other than drugs or water." Is your control exercised personally or through the medium of your officers ?-Through the medium of my officers.

They being constables of what rank ?—All European officers. Generally, the police on duty see that the law is observed; but I have also special men-detective-sergeants -in the Central District to look after all licensed premises, and to see that the licences are taken out and that there are no unlicensed premises. So that therefore the public- houses are supervised by the police on duty-all the police on beat and patrol-and also specially by detective-sergeants.

Have they any orders in writing as to what they are to do ?-No.

Are they allowed to enter a public-house at any time while on duty ?—Yes, if they enter it on duty.

Is it your business also to enquire into the character of the applicants for licences? Yes.

How is that done? Is it done by any special man or by anybody you choose to depute ?It would be done by the officer in charge of the district.

The officer in charge of the district in which the public-house is ?—Yes.

The officer in charge would be an Inspector ?—Yes. In the Central District a detective-sergeant might be told off to report.

By you or by an Inspector?-By me. So that it is done by special officers, is

it? Yes.

Of any particular rank or by anybody you happen to select ?-Generally the Inspectors make the enquiries.

With regard to these twenty-three houses, have you any complaints to make as to their management or any fault to find with them ?—No; they are well conducted.