Mr. Bruce on Monday brought in his long-promised Licensing Bill.
Its principles apart from details appear to be five. 1. That the proper number of public-houses in the judgment of Parliament is one for every 1,000 souls. 2. That if new houses are applied for in excess of that number—it is now greatly exceeded all over England—the ratepayers of a district to be fixed by the Justices shall have power by a three-fifths vote to forbid such increase. 3. That if increase is allowed, the highest bidder shall have the house for himself or agent, the Justices retaining no discretion. 4. That the inspection of public-houses shall be taken away from the police and entrusted to a separate department of inspectors. 5. That existing licensees shall receive a ten years' licence in com- pensation for losses. We have discussed the Bill elsewhere, but may add here that the Trade protests against the ten years' term as confiscation ; that the great towns like the Bill well enough, only so far as known condemning the delay ; and that the country districts are to be agitated against it. There has been no real discussion of it yet, but it seems to be understood that the Bill is far from contenting the Temperance Societies.
Previous page
