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LIST OF VISITORS.

COLWYN BAY.

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PRACTICALLY AN INTERMEDIATE…

Carnarvonshire Joint Police…

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Carnarvonshire Joint Police Committee. At this Committee's annual meeting on April 23rd, Mr Jones Morris (Portmadoc) was elected Chairman. THE CHIEF-CONSTABLE'S REPORT. In his report the Chief-Constable (Col. Ruck) stated that there had been a slight increase in the mumber of indictable offences, and a con- siderable increase in the number of the non- indictable offences committed. The latter had been chiefly caused by the offences of drunken- ness, common assaults, offences under the Town Police Clauses Acts, and vagrancy,—the increase under those headings being respectively 85, 28, 23, and 17. There has been a satisfactory decrease in the number of tramps relieved. The number of tramps relieved during the past quarter 905, as compared with 1415 in the cor- responding quarter last year. Number brought up for begging, 20 convicted, 15 discharged, 5. The value of property stolen was £ 53 5s 7d, of which L24 12S was recovered. Three publicans were proceeded against for offences under the Licensing Acts. Two for selling to drunken persons, and one for opening during illegal hours two being convicted and one dis- missed. The following promotions were made in consequence of the death of the late Supt. Williams. Inspector Rowland to the rank of Superintendent, P.S. T. Jones to that of Inspector and P.C. E. F. Evans (45) to that of Sergeant. In connexion with this matter, I may say that a Constable, to whom promotion was offered, asked to be allowed to decline it, on the ground that he would by accepting it be obliged to pay a higher rent than he could afford for a house. And I venture to suggest the desirability of equalising the house rent paid by members of the force upon the lines adopted in most other forces. A superannuated member of the force, Ex-Inspec- tor H. Roberts, was appointed at the last meet- ing of the County Council to act as Inspector of Weights and Measures for the Divisions of Bangor, Conway, and Pwllheli, for one year. Mr W. A. Darbishire commented upon the great increase shown in convictions generally, particularly of women. With regard to the suggestion as to equalising the house rent paid by Police Constables, &c., Mr J. R. Pritchard moved, and Captain Stewart seconded, that the committee which had this matter under consideration on a previous occasion should again be asked to enquire into it, and report. Mr Charles A. Darbishire said that in the case of Llandudno, a Constable had been obliged to take lodgers in order to meet the heavy rent of ^40 which he had to pay for his house. The motion to refer the matter to a Committee, was passed, the Chairman, Captain Stewart, Messrs C. H. Darbishire, H. Kneeshaw. D. P. Williams, J. R. Pritchard, Brymer, and D. E. Davies being placed on the committee. Mr D. P. Williams called attention to the great disparity between the number of persons con- victed of drunkenness and the number of publicans convicted during the past quarter, the figures being 176 as against 3. Some tour years ago, this matter was, taken up by the Police Com- mittee, who appointed the Lord-Lieutenant, Mr W. A. Darbishire, and himself (Mr Williams), to draw out a report, and provide for the use of the various Petty-Sessional Divisions a return of all the public-houses in the county. The report was accordingly prepared and presented to the court of quarter sessions, by whom it was approved, and in that report there was a recommendation that with a view to the better supervision of public-houses by the police, the conducting of business through back and side entrances should be discouraged. Now, many people would, doubtless, blame the police for their seeming negligence in not having had but three publicans convicted during the last quarter, and therefore lie thought it desirable for the public to know how very difficult it was for the police to find out and take proceedings against publicans who were guilty of breaking the law. One reason which the police adduced for this was that people slipped out of public-houses through back and side doors. In order to try to cope with this difficulty, he moved That it be an instruction to the Chief- Constable to make, with the assistance of the police force, a return of back and side doors of public-houses used for trade purposes, with a return also of those doors which, in the opinion of the police, should be closed in the interests of law and order, such returns, after consideration by this committee, to be sent, if thought desirable, to the Petty-Sessional Divisions for the purpose of reference." Mr C. H. Darbishire pointed out that on the strength of the report already prepared and sanctioned by Quarter Sessions, the magistrates of the Conway Division were accustomed to make it a condition of the granting of new licenses that back doors should be closed. Mr D. R. Daniel inquired of the Chief-Constable whether he could offer a reason for the difference between the number convicted of drunkenness and the number of publicans convicted. The Chief-Constable said that it could only be attributed to the fact that it was practically impossible to make the seller responsible for every person who got drink from him. Lord Penrhyn believed that the matter might be met by instructing the Chief-Constable to draw the attention of Petty-Sessional Divisions to the circumstances as stated by Mr Williams. Mr W. A. Darbishire, as one of those who drew out the report, some years ago, considered that the simplest way would be to draw the attention of Petty Sessional Divisions to that report. He moved, as an amendment, that that be done. Mr D. P. Williams explained that the report in question did not contain the returns for which he now asked. Eventually, Mr Williams's proposal was carried. SALARIES OF JUSTICES' CLERKS. The Cammittee further considered the report of a Sub-Committee with reference to rearranging the salaries of the Justices' Clerks, an increase of salary being recommended in some cases and a decrease in others. Mr Breese, the Clerk to the Portmadoc Division, attended to show cause why his salary should not be reduced, one reason being that a part of Merionethshire had recently been added to the Division and a letter was read from Mr Cledwyn Owen, the Clerk to the Pwllheli Division, expressing regret that ill-health prevented him from attending the meeting. There was a recommendation by the Committee that the salary of the Clerk to the Conway Division should be increased, by reason of the fees which he remitted being considerably more than his salary. After some discussion, it was decided to defer till the next meeting the final consideration of the matter. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CONWAY DIVISION. The Rev. J. Spinther James moved that the Police Superintendent of the Conway Division be henceforth stationed at Llandudno instead of Conway. He maintained that it was high time the headquarters of the police for that Division was removed. The other day all the policemen of Llandudno left to undergo their drill at Conway and during their absence there were two malignant processions in the town. Mr William Jones What were the malignant processions ? Mr James Painters on strike. Mr Jones Oh, I thought you had been visited by Fenians. [Laughter]. Mr W. J. Parry moved that the consideration of the matter be referred to a committee. Mr Nanney seconded the proposal. Mr C. H. Darbishire thought it important that the opinion of the magistrates of the Division should be had. He quite recognised that Llan- dudno wished to have everything into its own hands, but he wished to point out that the town was at the extreme end of the Division. The Chief-Constable denied that all the police left Llandudno on the drill day. A Sergeant and one Constable remained behind. The matter was then referred to a Committee consisting of the Chairman, Mr Menzies. and Bi J. R. Pritchard.

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COLWYN BAY.