Final report of Her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the operation and administration of the laws relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on the Liquor Licensing Laws
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Final report of Her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the operation and administration of the laws relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    156/406 (page 138)
    Roundel], 21,656. 66,139. 2. The Justices not the best Authority. On the assumption that the justices are to remain the licensing authority, it would be clearly an improvement upon the present system to have a committee in every division appointed by the justices of the division to deal with all licensing questions, with appeal to the full Bench which should also be the confirming authority. But after a very careful and exhaustive review of the administration of the law by the justices, we are forced to the conclusion that licensing business cannot properly be left solely in their hands, and that if permanent improvement is to be hoped for with any chance of being realised, the tribunal which shall administer the law and be invested with the increased powers which we have suggested cannot remain a wholly irresponsible body. It certainly cannot be denied that the justices have met with much hindrance from the imperfections and deficiencies and ambiguities of the laws, and it may readily be admitted that, to use the words of Mr. Stafford Howard, they are a great deal better than they were, and have more idea of their responsibilities than they used to have years ago. But when all has been said that can justly be said in their favour, it cannot be admitted that they are the best representatives of the wishes of the neighbourhood, or best interpreters of public feeling in regard to the due requirements of a locality. 3. Suggested Reforms. 33,107. 30,730. 30,736. 10,263. 10,444, 10,449. (i.) Indirect Popular Election. Mr. Grove, chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council, is in favour of solving the difficulty by resorting to a committee of the county council. The thoroughly representative character of that body may be admitted, and Mr. Grove thinks that if these new and important functions were added to its present duties the election of the county council would be, if possible, more strict than it is at the present moment. The direct admixture, however, of municipal and county business with licensing would meet with strong objection in many quarters, and the action of some watch committees does not afford a very encouraging example. Mr. Owen, however, does not see danger in the municipal or county business being thus mixed up with licensing business, and suggests that the county council and the county borough councils should select representative gentlemen resident in each licensing division to supersede the present licensing authority. The presence of ex officio members on the licensing board, such as the chairmen of the vestries and the chairmen of the local boards of health, is viewed with different eyes by Mr. Martineau on the one side, and by Mr. Bund on the other. Mr. Martineau, speaking of London, regards such ex officio members as distinctly an element for good and as being of assistance to magistrates from their being so much mixed up with the local life of the division, but Mr. Bund, speaking from his experience as a justice of the peace for W orcestershire and Cardiganshire, and alluding to the chairmen of district councils, regards the latter as more amenable to outside pressure than magistrates appointed in the ordinary way, and as imperfect adminis- trators of the law. 25,651, 25,657 &c. 25,921. (ii.) Direct Popular Election. A direct election is advocated by Mr. Prince, solicitor of Brighton, who entertaining the view that the functions of the licensing authority are administrative and in no sense judicial, would like to seethe licensing system transacted by a board elected purely and simply for licensing purposes, chosen for three years on the widest possible franchise. Objection, however, is taken to this proposal, on the ground that there are already more than enough of elections. Westlake, 67,112, &c. (iii.) A Joint Committee. A body partly elected and partly selected is recommended by Mr. Westlake, Q.C., and by Mr. Touchstone, repKesenting the Conservative and Unionist Temperance