Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

27 articles on this Page

County's Licensing.

News
Cite
Share

County's Licensing. Compensation Authority and the Rate. OUTSPOKEN OPINIONS. At the Breconshire Quarter Sessions, on Tues- day, the court received the report of the Com- pensation Authority, under the Licensing (Con- solidation) Act, 1910. No licences had been broug.ht before the authority for confirmation, and no reports "were received from Renewal Authori- ties. The committee reported the re-appointment of Mr David Price, as valuer, at a fee of C5 5s per case, and Mr T. W. Meats, Hereford, as auditor, in respect of the accounts for the three years 1915-16-17, at a fee of £3 3s per annum. The Secretary of State had approved of the sum of X5 as the clerk's remuneration for the year ending December last. Home Office Animadversion. The chairman said they had to fix the rate for the imposition of charges in respect of the year 1916. Last year, he said, they did not fix a rate at all. The fact that they did not do so was the subject of considerable animadversion by the Home Secretary. Mr Jones Powell (Messrs. Jeffreys and Powell, solicitors) said he was present as representing the licence-holders. The clerk, replying to the chairman, said there was a balance of t3ll 11s 1?d on current account, with ?200 as a "rest." They had no cases last |j year, and all the claims had been paid. Proceed- ing, the clerk gave figures of the proceeds of the rate since 1905. Last year they received £90, which really was in respect to the previous year. In 1905 they started with a maximum rate, which produced £ 1300. The following year with the maximum they got £ 2263. The difference in the amounts was accounted for by part of the last- named sum belonging to the previous year. I-n 1907 the maximum rate produced £ 165^ 8y; ear. In Jj maximum £ 1723; 1909, maximum £ 1633; 1910, maximum ?1450: 1911, 50 per cent. of the maxi- mum rate produced ?1117; 19, at half the maxi- mum, £ 1016; in 1913, with the same rate, £ 865. In 1914 the maximum rate was imposed, which produced zCl704. The chairman said if they did not Impose any rate this year they would have no money to com- pensate and no chance of proceeding against any licence should it be necessary. The only thing was 'whether, in view of the question of the bur- -dens placed upon everybody now and of the pre- cautions taken fo check drunkenness by restrict- ions, it was Mirto burden licensed premises with a rate during this year. He believed they had to impose a rate of some kind unless they could prove that it was not necessary to do so. The Clerk That is so, unless you can certify to the Secretary of State that it is unnecessary to im- pose the rate in any year. The chairman said last year the Secretary of State wanted to know how a rate was unnces- sary, having regard to the very large number of licensed houses in the county. It seemed to him more a question of getting information from the police than for any special pleading by a repre- I sentative of those interested in licensed premises or publicans. The deputy-chief constable, answering the .chairman, said the police had no aomplaints and no recommendations to make. Mr E. A. Wright proposed, and Mr Mitchell seconded, that no rate be imposed. The Other Side. The Chairman i\ I know there are mem- II bers identiifed with u, her side, and, perhaps, Mr Miller and Dr. Bhh mes would like to say I something. Mr Miller said he had no doubt there were divided opinions upon this question at the present time, as there always had been, but no reason had been ,Iven why they should not impose a rate. In the first place, there were houses that had been scheduled with which they had not been able to deal simply because they had had no money. The proportion of public-houses in Wales was much greater to the population than it was even in Eng- land. The deputy-chief constable was concerned -so far as his own limited experience went, but justices of the several petty sessional divisions should know much more of the requirements of those districts. As to whether the Trade could afford to pay compensation might be a matter of oipnion, but according to the returns of the first six months the drink bill of the country had gone up eight million pounds notwithstanding the re- strictions. The Chairman 1 am afraid it is in conse- quence of the restrictions, from what I have heard. Mr Miller was understood to say that if that was so he hoped justices would be empowered to apply prohibition. However that might be, lie con- tinued, it could not be from poverty. This Act was brought in by a Government for the very pur- pose of having redundant houses eliminated, in stead of by local option. Up till last year, lie had no reason to complain as to the action of the magistrates in this county. They had done ex- ceedingly well, but why they should make a jump from imposing the full maximum of the rate to one-half, and from one-half to nothing, was a puzzle to him. He moved, as an amendment, that they impose a rate of one-half the maximum for tili:, year. Dr. Black Jones, in seconding, called attention to the fact that the Act under which this levy was made was passed, and the clauses passed, to limit the number of licences, and, he thought, the logi- cal conclusion was' that the excess of licences was regarded under that Act as detrimental to the pub- lic good. The licensed trade, proceeded Dr. Black Jones, was limited by Act of Parliament for the simple reason that it was injurious to the State in the long run. There had been some very dras- tic legislation of late under the Defence of the Realm Act in which the hours of opening of houses had been strictly limited, and by the re- turns of the police courts there was a diminution in drunkenness. What followed? It meant far 'better, happier homes, fewer women and children starving, and money better spent—better spent on the food and clothing needed by the family. There was another point. In Russia, at the beginning of the war, the sale of vodka 'was suppressed. That had been the greatest revolution in Russia, and if they had gone on, on the old lines, they would never have maintained the war in the way they had. Vodka would have been fatal to the cam- paign. Then there were the economical condit- ions. They had been urged by the Government to save as much as possible in order to carry this war on. X160,000,000, or thereabout, was spent every year on drink. A large proportion of that certainly went to the State as taxes, but, perhaps, at least £ 100,000,000 was pure waste, and en- gendered much crime, unhappiness and pauperism. If that money were diverted into other channels it would be much to the benefit of the country. There were several towns which might be called "con- gested," and where licensed houses were in the excess of the number required. The future pros- perity of this country was in their hands. They bad to think first of the welfare of the majority, and not the privileges of the few. They all ut- tered the prayer, "Lead us not into temptation," but every public-house was a temptation to the weak-minded, to the one who was addicted to drink, and he held it was incumbent on this court to take every step they could to reduce that temptation and for the welfare of their country. Mr Miller and Advocate. The chairman then called upon Mr Jones Powell. Mr Miller, interposing, said he would like to ask a questioia. Personally, he had the greatest re- sect for their learned friend, but how did it hap- pen that he should come there as a special ad- vocate to that court?' The members of that court were supposed to come there and decide upon mat- ters from their own knowledge. There were plenty of men there who knew all about the whole thing from end to end, and understood the county. Then why should there be a special advocate? The Chairman On the last two or three occa- sions we have allowed it. I can only do it by the pleasure of the court. If you like to move that Mr Jones Powell be not heard, I will put it to a vote. Mr Miller I am perfectly willing to take the onus of so doing. For this reason it turns on a controversial matter altogether. We are supposed to judicially decide what is best in the interests of the people, and the magistrates, without being told. know the position of their own Petty Sessional Division. When the Temperance Party sent de- putations here to appeal to you, I certainly agreed

IGallant Borderers

London City and Midland Bank.…

iYear's Rainfall.I

I DEPARTURE OF THE REV. J.…

BRONLLYS PRESENTATION. I

Llandrindod Wells Churches.I

CALE AT TALCARTH.

I CHRISTMAS DAY EFFORT FOR…

Aberedw Chapel. I

HAY DOUNCIL. !

I Brecon Land Valuers

IBorderers' Puddings.

B. & M. Manager. I

Penoyre War Hospital.I

Caufron Male Voice PartyI…

! Quarter Sessions. I

Bwlch Concert. ! !

t Builth Wedding. ! ___i

I HEREFORD MARKET. I

j FARMERS' COLUMN. I-

CRICKHOWELL OFFICIAL I

I Polluted Water.

I Builth's Nonagenarian. j…

Advertising

RADNORSHIRE ITEMS.

County's Licensing.