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.

    204/406 (page 186)
    Dewar, 43,920. Rev. J. Hunter, 49,508. MeCormick, 59,640. Vol. V., p. 174. Vol. VI., App. XL, p. 451. 50,846. Vol. VI., App. XI., p. 452. We have mentioned the administrative activity of the magistrates in Dundee, In that city there has been since 1853 a steady decrease in the number of licensed houses, from 636 to 432. There has also been a diminution is some counties, though in a less degree than in burgbs ; but in the latter it must not be forgotten that some results must be credited to city improvements and the consequent demolition of houses. On the other hand in the counties a good deal of the diminution of licenses is due to the action of the ground landlords. In the county of Nairn, excluding the burgh of Nairn where there are 15 licenses, there is only one hotel and one public-house to a population of 5,378, and neither hotel nor public-house sells spirits. The burgh is said not to compare favourably with the landward part of the county. In the island of Tiree, where drunkenness once prevailed to an alarming extent, now, in consequence of the removal of all places for the sale of strong drink, drunkenness is exceedingly rare, and the action of the Duke of Argyll is strongly approved. In Banffshire, 34 licenses appear to have been voluntarily abandoned in the course of 10 years. The reduction in the number of licenses in Haddington county, as given in a return put in by the Rev. P. R. Mackay, is remarkable. In 1828, the licenses numbered 210. They have fallen steadily from that time till at intervals of 10 vears they amounted in 1871 to 77, in 1881 to 72, in 1891 to 66, and in 1897 to 64. In one of the districts of the county, this reduction is partly attributed to the controlling action of a few proprietors, but a large portion of the result must be due to regulations which the licensing authorities drew up for their own guidance in 1863, and which have governed their policy ever since. It is sufficient to refer to two articles of these regulations: (1) that all licenses should be granted for the accommodation of the public, and not for the purposes of charity to individuals. (2.) No new certificates to be granted until the licensed houses be reduced to 64 in the landward part of the county, which number is the present number, exclusive of the Royal burghs. iv. Excessive Number of Licensing Justices. There is a feature, however, in the administration of the law in the counties which cannot be disregarded, namely, the excessive number of justices. A varying number of justices sitting in the licensing bench results in variable decisions, and the execution Craig, of a uniform policy becomes impossible. Taking the county of Midlothian, out of a 46'547* P0SSiMe total of about 286, inclusive of ev-officio members, a large number, say 170, would be qualified, and are competent to act, and of these, 130 do actually take part in justice of the peace work. The decisions given by a court of 45, increased sometimes to 60, and differently composed at different times, must necessarily be not only not uniform, but sometimes contradictory, so that persons are encouraged to make repeated application, in one instance on 12 consecutive occasions for a license, in the hope that a freshly composed court may give a decision in their favour. Harding, In Renfrewshire the chief constable regards the number of ex ufficio justices as a 45'202 c^ari£er t° the licensing system of the county. They attend where there is an appeal, possibly never having been in a licensing court before. They are liable to be canvassed, they are canvassed, and some of them canvass with the publicans. A justice of the peace for Dumbartonshire recommends delegation of the licensing business to a committee. One hundred and eighty justices form a large body, from Stanford, which the courts are constituted, and the decisions are not at all what they ought to 46,031. ]}e>r' Tjkg decisions are given by justices from a distance on cases which mostly centre round the populous and drinking district of Clydebank. v. Canvassing. We reserve, for the present, the question of the reconstitution of the licensing authority, but must dwell upon an abuse which is largely prevalent and loudly and justly complained of. The evil habit of canvassing is encouraged in the counties as we have just seen by the fact that the varying composition of the court holds out hopes of a reversal of its decisions.