The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

The Opposition. Witnesses .for the opposition- wece now exam- ined by Mr Lowe. Mr J. T. Taylor said, he was a huildler in a lar.g.e. way im Col-wyB Pay, and had lived t'besrq about eighit years. Diu.rin.g the. last four years be 'had ¡paid frequ'ent visits to 'the piea:, and had fam.Jiy tickets. If the licence were -granted^ it would be detrimentail spo- the- interests of the town. It would be putting a, temptation in the path of the young people. A licence was not in any way necessary or desirable. Mr Marshalll Hall: You -would1 let one of your bauises to a man who took a drink occasionally r1 -Yes. You would object iw the granting of any licence? Not -under certain; conditions. Under what conditions1 would you 'not object to a licence being granted to this Pier Com- pan Y' ? I would not allow a licence, to be granted to "he, ,pier under1 any conditions. -i, I Thein I need, not trouble you any further. (Laughter.) Mir C romp ton, a resident of CQ;IW'yn'B<a, said he had been a visitor for labout six years. He had been a lecturer for many years in. institu- tions in Lancashire; and Yorkshire, and, h.ad thus .com.e into- contact with; young people. As an inspector of technical sdhools, he had tra- vened, considerably. 'He had often advised young üperati ves from the factory districts, to spend, theiir- holidays in Colwyn Bay. But if there was a licence 0]]) the pier, it might lead the young men to. drinlc, and' the girls might be also persuadedi Ico tabe-intoxicants. (Laughter.) T'hns witness, was not cross-examined. The Rev F. Platt, M.A., B.D., the pasitür of the English Weslevan Church' at Colwiyn Bay, said iherhad lived for -many years in the .popu- lous districts; of Lancashire and Yorkshirie,where a great proportion of the Colwyn Bay viators came from. In his opinion, facilities for drink- ing were a drawback in a seaside town. The licence was next required at all. It would be placing temptation in the way of both the resi- dents, and the visitors. By Mr Marshall Hall: He, came to Colwyn Bay (in September last. He did not know of any seaside pier which; had no licence. Whils,t objecting strongly to Pche ,abuse, of drnnk, he left the question of the reasonable; use- of it to, the people themselves. The Pavilion in Golwyl1 Bay took the place of a music-hall in large towns, .and s'uch a place should not be associ- ated with drinking facilities. Mr Haill: Would' yom-o'bjeclt to a man having a glass of beerf if he fait diisposedi to.? Mr Platt: No. (Heair, hear.) Miss Hovey, B.A., the Principal of the ien- Colw d' t?ha:t rh,os College for -Gi.rls, yn; 'Bay, s.ai there were about 120 pupils under her care. She had given the, pier eveiry possabie support, and the 'students were often! there. If 'tthe licence were granted, it would be a great drawback, because of the condition in which people might I be -met there. Besides the young pupils at -pre- sent at (the college, a very large number of old pupils regularly visited the town, and witness would not oare that these girils; should come in contact with undesirable people on the pier. A Councillor's Evidence. Mr Rowland iE. Williams, a member of the Colwyn 'Bay Urban District Council, said he had resided u'here for 29 years, and was. the owner of consid-erable property. The licence was most undesirable, and not at all necessary. 'Mir Hail: What afre- your views on the siuoject of temperance? Mr R. E. Williams I am a total abstainer. Mr Hall: Then I won't trouble you further. (La,u.g?liter.) The R-ev T. -\I. Scii.es, th?e, p,astc,r of i?h,- Beth- B?a *d leh-er.i, (Welsh) C?hu?-rch, C.olwy,n y, sal he thought the. licence quite unnecessary. It was not fair or right to impose it on the town all the year round just because it worud provide facili- ties during1 ithe season. It would also, degrade the town m a general and a moral sense. A place of amusement ought not to he connected with drinking. Mr J. O. Jones, London. House, Colwyn nay, said he was in a. large way of businesslin the town, and had; resided theire for 25 years. He was a shareholder in the Pier -Company. Though not a; total .abstainer hiimsedf, he was of opinion that a licence -wo-Lild be undesirable on the; pier. He gave up his position of director because this application was persisted! in. He considered ithat a lice,n,ce would -put tam-p'tation in the path of young men, Mr Marshall Hall: Have you found that places of amusement have put (temptations in your way? Mr Jon-es No. Mrs Spencer, Victoria Park, Colwyn Bay, ob- jected to the licence. Speaking from a woman's point of view, she said- that licences of th-s nature were responsible for the gireat increase in dru nkenness .amongst wo-men. Women would drink .in a licensed restaurant when they would 11 OIL enter a public-house. Mr Marshall Hall: What abclut grocers licen- ces? (Laughter.) Mr Ernest Buckley, confectioner, said that the want of a licence.,did not af-fect his refresh- ment house. He would not be, asked for beer, etc., more than about twioe in ipwelve months, ?ii -1 1 seii,t 'o,u?t f or. The licence i,iii it was ne v,r would be most undesirable. By'Mr Marshall Halil: He had! -not signed the temperance pledge, btut he never touched strong drink. He supplied- every luxury in the way of tea, coffee, mineral waters, ellc. Mr Hall: Including Kop's ale? {Laughter.) MB Hall: There ar-, some :peoplec-misguided, no doubt;—who would like beer. Would; you object to their having it in other houses?—No. Witness added that he objected! to the licence (,Il? the -er cau5 -a, 'p" ?,ing illle p,erat-,?-? haib".t? wo?til,d be ;cre?atet? ?l-i,?L-n t'he co?,iven- ience to visitors. The Rev. Thomasl Lloyd, the pastor of. the English Congregattional Church, said that his chief objection was a moral one, the danger which would be put in the. way of young people. They had a protection against public-houses. Young people would not go there, because there were no concerts, to attract them. The con- certs, were on the pier,, and' the young p-eop e went ithere. From his. knowledge of human j nature:, and after twenty years' work in, Colwyn Bay, he -knew that ,temptation was a great danger to young people. Therel was no desixs to prevent people- haviin;g any rlôÍTeshments uiey Te(lu',r?f-,d, but p,e,ple who, did, n-otc d?e,s,ire, d?rink shouldi not ,h,ave the t-emptat?iorv, t-ol i:n,,d'u.1-?? force,d If ?a ?ied, 0 ,uip,on ??he?m. lice?nc?e were ,ra?n t?h, tempt at ion would have to he met, or people would have to keep away from. the piler alto- geth.er. The town should1 have; an opinion m the matter. The- majority^ of the res'.dents let apartments, and a strong petition1 had been- signed by them against the licence. Yroung people who went «n the pier miigbt be tampted to start thel downward path. Counsel and the Witness. Mr Marshall Hall: Do vou: suiggiest that every man wl-i-o takes a glass of beer isi on ,the down- ward pa'.th? (Warmly) .becauseif you: do, I resent it! Mr Lloyd I do not suggest ithat. Some of the finest men' I .have met take a glass. of beer. The learned counsel paid a graceful tribute to tlj-.i.e e,ajr-,i!est!nes,s .of the witness;, and assured him thaie he did not attempt in any way to' delpreoatle hais evidence. Mir1 Hall 'Have you been ab,roa,d?-No. Do you know that it is the custom in Switzer- land, Germany, .and) other con.t.inental countries to supply the. people wiitih drink, whilst they are enjoying music might after night.'? And dlo you know that these countries are' noted for there being less -djnunkenne&si there. than, anywhere?— No.. Mr H. W. Jones, Hollyhurst, -said he had re- -e i,i-le y?e,ars. id d in, C,olwyn? Bay, fo,r xii Thie s licence, was. not at all. desirable. The town had prospered! during these nine years, and was doing well now. It was not 'desirable, t!o introduce anything that miglht .spoil that prosperity. The licence was -dielsir,ed; by the- Pier -Coraipa-ny, but iio,t by the town. Mr Arnold Williams, Belgrave. 'Buildings, said that the p.,iler was a very smalil one, and iye Pavilion on it was. a place of amusement merely. A .great many peoplel attended the concents, and they are free from all temptation. With the licence, a large1 number w-Ould go on the- pier, and come- under the influence of those who drank. By Mr Marshall Hall: He was a total ab- stainer, but he had no objection to, others, drink- ing a glass of beer, i Mr Hall: Did you recently ask Mr Lalandle if he' would let Mr Brown,, t.be Gilchr: st lecturer, have' a d.ri,nk at, the club? Witness hastily explained! that it was refresh- ment, by way of coffee or tea he asked1 far, in case Mr Brown might not have time .to go up to knoiw before his train time. Mr Hall: And, what dud Mr Brown really have? Witness I callinot say. Mr Arnold Williams said he would like; to add a statement-. He cansidered that 20,000, as the number of visitors in, Colwyn Bay during the summer season, was- a greatly exaggerated figure. After a most careful research, he had' come to the conclusion that the' figure -was much nearer 5,000. (Derisive laughter.) Mr Marshall Hall: That: is 0,11 a par with the rest of this gentleman's evidence. The Riev. John Edwards said- that his ma.in reasons for objecting' to the licence was that places of amusement ought to. be free from temptation. Tlhis concluded' the evidence of witnesses, and the counsel for, the opposition, addressed the Bench. Mr Lowe's Speech. A CLEVER EFFORT. Mr Lowe said that the. Bench were well aware that this application, had been made foiux conse- cutive years. On one occasion it had been granted by the! local 'Bench, but when the- ap- plication was madfe to the-Confirming Oommittele the licence was refused. It had now again been granted by ,the local illench, and had come for confirmation'. So far as he was aware no new g,rounds whatever had been, put forward for the granting of the licence, and if it had been refuged the four years, he thought this a good argument for refusing it again, unless, some fDesh grounds were brought forward, and he would submit that no fresh grounds had been produced. What were the maim, grounds upon which the applica- tion) was; founded? Apparently the grounds seemed rather to. have shifted. ITtherto it had been for the benefit of the- shareholders. To- day they were told that it was not for the benefit of the shareholders. How -that change had come, about he did not know, but it still s'e'emed' perfectly clear that the licence was wanted in order that the company might pay a dividend, that they might make a profit. They 'were al,so told that unlesls, this licence was granted it would be impossible to carry -out the pier extensions contemplated.. Why? They could not get the money. What was the licelnoe: wanted for? In order to raise that money. He theiefire put it to the Beindhl t'halt: the. licence; was not required by the public or for the- visitors, but in. order to r,tis,e furtiher capital, to make the plier la, financial success, and thus, to put more money in the pockets of the present shareholders. They said, "Here we are, we have heen- and 'spent nearly ^40,000 .in this- concern, and! cannot get a penny dividend. Gave us a licence." That had been the application, time after time, and: he saw no alteration in. it now. What evidence; ha-d there been: that )it was ne.oessary to meet the d'eriSandls of the public. Very little indeed of local evi- dence. Truly there had been two or three, who had kept lodjgers. But surely, ini the face of all the petitions that had been, presented, that was not going to be taken as conclusive evidence that Ithe licence was required:. He was. quite sure that tihe Bench would with hiim that it was not enough, and that they would not take it. Now as to the main- disadvantages of a licence being granted. The' Pavilion was a place of amusement, and! not a place to take refreshments in any shape or form. Its main .object was to -co,nce!r.ts, antd -tlhat: was, a st.ro.n,, air,,g,uiine.nt -hold z:l against the granting of the; licence. As the Pavilion, now ,existed, in the absence of the ex- tension, it -was perfectly clear that, in the in- terval of the; concert, a large number of peoplle would walfc around this; small place, continually meeting one another, and as was the case else- where friends would be standing -each other drinks. That would be the; one- and only result. This mischief would in all probability be ex- aggerated by tihe exciting .tendencies -of ,the music. Another objection was the great temptation; that it cfffared to women and' girls. Many of these •would -take; a, drink .on the pier, while they would neyer dream of entering the ordinary public, house'. He felt convinced that the granting of the, hcellicewQuldi lead; to vary serious results. Reference; had been mad.e to the club. It had been very difficult to explain why this club had been brought into, existence. It was suggested •feat the rooms had! been let -in such a way that they would be some source- of revenue. What was the revenue ? 1:4° a year. It was; absurd to say that: this was done in order to be able to pay a dividend. Its existence was not for the benefit of artistes of any kind. The club w.as formed as a, lever towards the granting of the licence. Tihe Pier Company came here and' said, "The club is open, you cannot touch us. We can keep it open week-day and Sunday alike. Y O'u had better give- us a licence, as' the lesser of the two evils." The great complaint had' been that this concern did. not pay. Tlhis, was only natural; such undertakings never did at first. They could not expect .it to pay. It wias very difficult to find out exactly what the financial position during the first year was, but a profit was made. With all great concerns of that kind it was impossible to introduce economising de- vices f'rom tihe very first. The opposers would say that the lowering of the level of the concerts did not -cionduce towards s'ucce'ss. The, whole question was, "We want to make money out of it." There was now no new grounds what-ever produced, and -until the Ben.dh had some fresh and1 strong- evidence in favour of the-application he would ask them; to refuse their confirmation. Replying -to Mr Lowe:, Mr Marshall Hall said that his friend evidently did not perceive the corollary to his own argument. The pier could only pay if -it fulfilled; a public want. If it paid, it would show that there had been a public demand: fortbeiifacili'ty and against; the reasonable and legitimate -use of liquor, there. oQiuld be -no possible objection. With regard to refresh- ments, it was a well-known fact that the sale of reasonable refreshments brought a profit, and it was but fair that the Pier Company shouldl be granted all reasonable facilities for making a profit. He felt .sure that the Bench would deal with the application; fairly and; judiciously, The Bench retired shortly after one o'clock. After but a few -minutes' absence, they returned into court, and the Chairman announced that the licensing Committee had resolved to grant the licence. Sio,m,e appi,a-iTs,e, ,-neete-d the announcement. The ChÚrmanl asked whether there was a pro- bability of the Artistes' Club being stopped. MIrHaN: Certainly, .sir. The. premises will ■now be wanted'' for another purpose. Mr Lowe mentioned the subject of costs. Mr Marshall Hallll: We do not apply for costs, as we re,co;-nise that t!h,e opp,os,.?t' zn ion i,s a con.s,ci- entious- one.

Cheshire Public-House Trust. Bishop of Chester and Tied Houses. THE first annual meeting of the. Cheshire Public- house Trust Company, Limited, was held alt Chester on Friday, Mi B. C. Roberts presiding. The directors reported that a satisfacory start had been made, as the following list of public- "io n i u,s,es under the ir?.a?niagemen?t io-F tthe -ciornpa, y te.stified:-(i) The Ram's Head Hotel, Disley; (2) the Leigh Ar-ms, Pr.estbury; (3) the Dock Hotel, Ellesmere Port; and (4) the Swan Hotel, Bucklow Hill, Knutsford; wthile arrangements were .being mad:e to take over (5) the Grosvenor Arms, Aldford, and {6) the. Bear and Ragged Staff, Tattemhall. The directors reoommended a dividend -at (the rate of 3 per cent. The Bishop- of Chester pointed out that public- houses throughout -the country -had been got in the firm grip of the tied-house system, and a movement like :the 'Trust, coming late Ion the scene, had great difficulty in '.securing public- 'houses. If the coming legislation, was not -very •carefully watched, it would mean, he supposed1, that thie tied-house system, would- be came gen- eral throughout England. That was not what the -temperance party generally thought good,. The report was adopted.

-_U Ask for the CELEBRATED "Roderick Dhu" K Highland Whisky. SOLD EVERYWHERE IN THE FIRM'S OWN LABELLED AND CAPSULED BOTTLES. WRIGHT & GREIG, Ltd., Distillers, GLASGO W. c2M COAL! COAL! COAL! Unequalled for Quality & Price. THE FINEST STAFFS. & LANC. HOUSE COALS AND COBBLES, ALSO GAS COKE, FIREWOOD, &c. TRUCK LOADS AT WHOLESALE PRICES. WHITE FOR PRICES -I -r ROWLAND & SIMPSON WYNNSTAY CHAMBERS, COLWYN BAY. 495a VALUE FOR MONEY! Our Specialities:—BUTTER and TEA. Quality:-THE BEST. Prices :-RIGHT. T. ROBERTS, Station Road, COLWYN BAY K GROCER, BAKER « PROVISION MERCHANT. EVERYTHING WE SELL WE GUARANEEE. 8529 0 owed y n -'4NT W-4 IN LLS & OIN"O'I"Mw Are Blessings in every Household, THE PILLS THE OINTMENT Care Indigestion, Headache, Biliousness, Dizzy Is a splendid remedy for Old Wounds, Srcaa, Sensations, and other ailments arising from Abscesses, Boils, Poisoned Cuts and Skin AJfeo- disordered Liver or Stomach. They cleanse the tions. It is invaluable in all Chest and Thl'or.' Blood and strengthen the system. Famales will Diseases; also for Sciatica Lumbago, Sprains And them of the greateat value. and Stiff Joints 4364 u _a_h_ CHILDREN GROW STRONG ON Ulm Cadbury's Cocoa 8 because it is a perfect Natural Food of absolute purity, and B ministers to the physical requirements of the young in an eminent degree. It contains aU the essentials of I strength and stamina, is easy of digestion, and does 1 I splendid work in the building up of the constitution. S The Medical Magazine says: "We are criad to give it the highest Praise. For Strength, Purity, and t, Nourishment there is nothing superior to be -.ouiid." ????f??RMMCHSTM ??E th?teB?B?B???BBB B H?!? ag iT??i??F???T'F??M a! ? ?F??FB???B FF?F? "'T TOUCHES THE SPOT? 'ak ??mmma?sH?aKam??m??