From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 January, 1905. Price 1d.

THE LICENSING ACT

A memorial was received from Dover under the Licensing Act, 1904, asking to be declared a separate district.

Judge Selfe said that he did not see on what grounds the memorial should be granted, and suggested that it should not be acceded to.

It was decided that no action should be taken.

There was a motion on the agenda paper for the Justices to formulate rules under section 5, sub-section 3, of the Licensing Act, 1904. This the Magistrates considered in private. On returning into the Court the Chairman announced that that Justices had received a memorial from the solicitors practicing in East Kent and from the Bar Counsel with reference to the right of audience before the Committee of Justices appointed by Quarter Sessions. The rule now in operation would remain the same as regarded solicitors, who would be able to appear before the Committee provided they appeared on instructions of their clients and not on instruction of another solicitor.

The next business was to impose charges under section 8, sub-section 1, of the Act in respect of all existing on-licenses renewed in respect of premises within the area of the East Kent Quarter Sessions.

His Honour said it was rather difficult to judge what amount would be required, but he thought it would be best at first to impose the maximum penalty. He proposed that this course be pursued.

This was agreed to.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 January, 1905. Price 1d.

THE NEW LICENSING ACT

The operation of the new Licensing Act, which only came into force on the 1st January, has already given rise to a good deal of discussion. Like many contentious Acts, the particular difficulty that crops up in putting them into operation is generally one that did not form the bone of contention in Parliament. The present difficulty arises from a grasping policy which the Quarter Sessions for the Counties are adopting. The Bill gave the alternative of separate areas being formed in boroughs and defined districts, or the whole County should be dealt with as one. The latter alternative was never contemplated when the Bill was passed, as being likely to be universally adopted, and the principle was always being enunciated that the license holders would have to pay a certain fixed rate for compensation that would be used in removing surplus houses in their district, the result being that whatever bona fide trade was thereby displaced, would go to the houses that had contributed to that compensation fund – a clear and equitable proceeding. The County Justices, however, seen to be going behind that principle, it may be for the purpose of dealing with the villages in which the majority of them are more interested that in the towns, but it is obviously distinctly unfair, and will be condemned by the Licensing Trade and the Temperance Party.

Take the case of Dover. Everyone will admit that the number of licensed houses is more than are required, and if it can be done fairly ought to be reduced. The amount of compensation that licensees in Dover will have to pay will provide a large sum available for doing this; but unless the County Justices can be induced to alter their present decision it is quite as likely as not that not a single penny of this money will be spent in Dover in reducing the number of licensed houses, but that it will be used in reducing houses in the villages between Faversham and Canterbury, where the men who rule the East Kent Quarter Sessions reside.

The Borough Recorder put the matter very clearly before the Dover Quarter Sessions on Monday, and the question also cropped up on Tuesday at the Council meeting. The only hope remaining is the statement of the Clerk of the Peace that the Council could renew their application. They are going to do that, and mean to properly support it before the Justices. Here would be an excellent occasion for the Temperance Party to work in conjunction with the Licensed Victuallers. The former believe that a reduction of licenses would reduce excessive drinking; the latter believe that the reduction of licenses will have no effect on the trade, but will simply bring additional custom to the houses left. The Licensed Victuallers are only too anxious that the number of houses should be reduced in Dover now they are forced to pay to the compensation fund, believing that by that means they will alone obtain a return for the money they pay out.

The Temperance Party believing that there will be no return, but that for every public house gone the drink sold in that house will be no longer sold; consequently, although their ideas as to the results differ, their objects are the same, and they ought to heartily support each other at the next East Kent Quarter Sessions in inducing the County Magistrates to make Dover a separate district.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 January, 1905. Price 1d.

THE LICENSING QUESTION

The Town said that they would have seen from the papers that the petition of the Town Council in regard to the formation of Dover as a separate area under the Licensing Act had not been acceded to by the Quarter Sessions for East Kent. He had received a letter from the Clerk of the Peace informing him that the proposal that Dover should be a separate district had been considered, and the East Kent Quarter Sessions had come to the conclusion that not sufficient ground had been shown, and resolved that no action be taken. Such a resolution would not preclude the Council from making a further application.

The Mayor said that he thought they would have to make up their minds to make further application later on, and that the Town Clerk should in the meantime, get up the facts so that they should be in a better position than on Monday last.

The Town Clerk said that he had been under the impression that it would be referred to a committee, and considered at the next Quarter Sessions.

Councillor Appleton asked if the Town Council was represented when the memorial was presented.

The Mayor said they were not.

Councillor Appleton said that he believed there was a strong feeling as to the Liberties being included in the application with the borough. The question was whether the Liberties were of any benefit to the borough. If they were only included because of the sentimental aspect of the affair, he thought it much better that they should drop them. It would place them in a very serious position if the County Magistrates were to deal with the funds subscribed in the borough by using them in other parts of the county, whilst Dover would receive no benefit whatever. He thought that another application should be made, and that someone should be there to represent the borough in regard to the memorial, and that it should be clearly defined as to whether the borough intended to have the Liberties included in their application. He had heard this from Mr. Councillor Wright, and it was no secret. He thought it would be much better to drop the Liberties if they were only included from a sentimental point of view.

The Town Clerk said it was not a question of sentiment. They might in a future memorial leave the Liberties out.

Councillor Appleton said that he mentioned the matter because there was some doubt if the application included the Liberties.

The Mayor said it did. They were part of the licensing jurisdiction of the borough. The application could not be renewed for three months, and there would be plenty of time to consider the best possible form in which to make the application.

Councillor Thorpe remarked that the County Magistrates were not going to give away anything.

The Mayor: Not if they can help it.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 April, 1905. Price 1d.

TRANSFERS

The Refreshment Rooms, Harbour Station, to Mr. Taylor, assistant secretary to Messrs. Lyons, who are taking over all the refreshment rooms on the London and Chatham Railway.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 21 April, 1905. Price 1d.

LICENSING BUSINESS

An application was made by Mr. Groves on behalf of Messrs. Lyons for permission to alter the refreshment rooms at the Harbour Station. the principle alteration was the construction of a tea room.

The application was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 June, 1905. Price 1d.

LICENSING TRANSFERS

18, Cannon Street, Drug Stores, from Woolmar, White to Ernest Forse, Secretary to Timothy White Company, Limited.

"Captain Digby," St. Peters, from George Edward Scott, to William George Hobby, of St. Peters, licensed victualler.

"Wheatsheaf," St. Peters, from Thomas Alfred Pemble to John Thomas of Faversham, signalman.

"Red Lion," St. Peters, from James William Watson to Walter David Harris, late of Canterbury, licensed victualler.

"White Swan," St. Peters, from Alfred Thomas Silver to William Harlow, of St. Peters, can proprietor.