LICENSING OF CLUBS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The increase of clubs has resulted from the closing-down of public-houses ; their popularity largely from the restrictions imposed on public-houses. Those who have brought about the closing of public-houses as " redundant " must consider themselves in great part responsible for the growth of the number of clubs, as must those also who have brought about a shortening of the hours during which the former may remain open. The demand for opportunities of refreshment is too general to be defeated in whole or to a large extent even in part by legislation.
The Chairman of a Licensing Bench suggests in the article you published that certain restrictions should be imposed on the proprietorship of clubs. But just as the restrictions on public-houses has resulted in the growth of clubs (by which the public overcomes these restrictions), so would restrictions on clubs promote means of overcoming them.
Club competition is unfair to publicans. But it is unfair not because of the privileges allowed to the club proprietor, but because of the privileges denied to the publican.
It is a pity that the article by the Chairman did not give any indication of the type of locality his Bench controls. I do not think that the state of club affairs that he describes is in any way general.—I am, Sir, &c.,
B. B. WILLIAMS.
Beach Lane Farm, Alderton, IVoodbridge, Suffolk.
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