The Times published in its issue of Monday the draft
majority Report of the Licensing Committee, as well as that signed by Lord Peel and seven temperance members. On many points the two Reports are in complete agreement,—vin, in admitting the need of extensive reduction of licenses ; in holding theabolition of tied houses impracticable while insisting on the expediency of dealing only with the real occupier ; in the recommendations with regard to the granting of new licenses, renewals, and transfers ; in safeguarding children ; and in the conclusions arrived at with regard to the constitution of Watch Committees, to police administration, the regulation of dui*, and habitual inebriates. The chief points of divergence between the two Reports are in respect to (a) the disqualification of Justices ; (b) the constitution of the licensing authority ; (c) compensation for the com- pulsory extinction of licenses without misconduct. Here the proposals of the majority are based on the assumption that the outgoing publican is entitled to a, "compensation equiva- lent to the fair intrinsic selling value of the license and goodwill," while Lord Peel peremptorily lays it down that the claim to compensation at the full market value of a licensed house "cannot be for one moment entertained," and rests on no legal foundation whatever. The majority Report, it is anticipated, will be signed by sixteen out of the twenty-four Commissioners, comprising seven of the eight neutrals, all the trade members, and one temperance member.
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