From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 18 January, 1907. Price 1d.

LICENSING BUSINESS

Messrs. Lukey were granted an occasional license to sell at the Yeomanry ball, to be held at the Town Hall on January 23rd.

The license of the “Hussar,” Garlinge, was transferred from T. Lee to R. S. Stokes.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 25 January, 1907. Price 1d.

LICENSING TRANSFER DAY. THE PLOUGH TRANSFERRED

The Magistrates met at the Police Court this morning to hear applications for the transfers of the licences. Mr. M. Pepper was in the Chair, and those present were Capt. R. B. Cay, R.N. Messrs. R. G. C. Rubie, F. G. Wright, W. J. Barnes, F. W. Prescott, J. Scott, and E. Chitty.

The “Hussar,” Garlinge, was transferred from Thomas Lea to Robert Stuart Stokes, late of Ramsgate, licensed victualler.

“Neptune's Hall,” Broadstairs, from Thomas Hazelton, deceased, to Jane Emma Hazelton, widow of the deceased.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 8 February, 1907. Price 1d.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS WINGHAM THURSDAY

Before H. F. Plumptre in the Chair, H. W. Plumptre, Sir J. Lyall, D. E. Lang, J. D. Maxted, A. N. Wolleston, and C. Firebrace, Esqrs.

POLICE REPORTS

The annual reports of Superintendents Chaney, Jacobs, and Hollands, on the beer-houses of their respected districts were read, and showed that all the houses had been well conducted and that there had been no increase in drunkenness.

ALL LICENCES RENEWED

All the licences were renewed, the Chairman complimenting the District on the satisfactory manner in which the licences had been conducted.

APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE AT ASH

Mr. Ashton Tilbrook, Secretary for Messrs. Gardner and Co., Ash Brewery, near Dover, applied for a licence for the sale of bottled beer in small quantities at the Brewery.

Mr. Hardman, who appeared in support of the application, said that at present the brewers could not sell beer in quantities less than 1½ gallons, and they asked for permission to sell quantities down to six bottles. Most of the other brewers in the district were in possession of the licence. The license was not required to compete with the licensed victuallers , as the beer would be delivered and not consumed on the premises.

Mr. Asherton Tilbrook said that the Company were continually refusing custom as they had not permission to sell the small quantities. He knew that other brewers in the district had this licence. These brewers sold beer in the Ash district, and paid no rates there, whilst his Company paid large rates in the district.

Mr. Albert Solly, a resident of Ash: I oppose this licence on behalf of the ratepayers. There are already 16 licences in the village, and three of them belong to Messrs. Gardner. I consider it as unnecessary, and conclusive to drunkenness.

Dr. Hardman: On what materials does Mr. Solly speak for the ratepayers of? Apparently he speaks for himself as a teetotaller.

The Chairman: You don't represent the body of ratepayers?

Witness: No, I represent myself as a ratepayer. (Laughter.)

The Chairman (to Mr. Tilbrook): Can you bring any evidence as to how long the other firms have been selling bottled beer in this district?

Witness: For some years Messrs. Weston and Co. of Ramsgate sell in this district, as well as the Canterbury Brewery Co.

The Chairman (to Mr. Solly): have you any evidence to bring forward as to the harm done by the bottles beer trade?

Witness: No except that the brewers' agenda are in the district pressing for others.

Have you any evidence of that?

No, I can find some if necessary. They won't come to my house – no fear. (Laughter.)

The Magistrates retired to consider their decision, which was that the licence should be granted, with condition that the Company sell in quantities not less than six bottles.

Mr. Solly: What does a bottle contain?

The Chairman: The matter is settled.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15 February, 1907. Price 1d.

THE LICENSING SESSION

The Magistrates on Monday referred to Quarter Sessions five licences, which they recommended should be taken away and compensation given. They also granted Messrs. Gardner and Co. a licence for the sale of small quantities of bottled beer from their stores in Priory Gate Road. The fact that all the other brewers in the town have similar facilities would seem to show that it was fair that Messrs. Gardner should have one granted to them. At the same time, we cannot help feeling that a great mistake is being made in giving these facilities in the first instance. Surely there are plenty of facilities for obtaining any bottled beer required from the retail traders. And it is certainly a great mistake on the part of the Magistrates to assist in taking away from the retailer a part of their legitimate trade. It lowers instead of raises the tone of the retailer, and it inflicts a great hardship on those who already have plenty of difficulties staring them in the face. If it is really a question of justice, it would seem fairer to take all these little beer licences away instead of granting any more.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15 February, 1907. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING MEETING

The Annual Licensing Meeting of the Dover Magistrates was held at the Police Court on Monday at noon. The Magistrates on the Bench were:- The Mayor (G. P. Raggett, Esq.), Sir William Crundall, Messrs. J. L. Bradley, M. Pepper, W. J. Barnes, W. J. Adcock, H. W. Thorpe, H. F. Elwin, J. W. Bussey, F. G. Wright, E. Chitty, J. Scott, F. W. Prescott, and T. A. Terson.

RENEWAL OF THE LICENCES.

The Clerk to the Magistrates announced that all the existing licences would be renewed with the exception of the “Star”, the “Comet,” the “Volunteer,” the “Nottingham Castle,” and the “Ordnance Arms.” The licences for singing and dancing and music would also be renewed.

RESTAURANT LICENCES.

Mr. Fraser appeared for the certificate that the refreshment room at the Harbour Station was erected on the such, and entitled to the rebate in accordance with the first schedule of the Act 1894. On the last occasion it was half the rate, but he now asked that it should be reduced to one third, as that was the proportion of annual liquor sold, the business being mainly one of a restaurant. He also applied to a small rebate in respect to the Town Station, although in that case the figures were not quite so favourable.

Mr. H. Mowll made applications for rebate on behalf of the Admiralty Pier refreshment rooms, the Prince of Wales Pier, the Granville Restaurant, and Messrs. Tritton, 177, Snargate Street.

Mr. Bailey, of the “Burlington Hotel” also made a similar request to the refreshment but at the “Promenade Pier.”

Some of the Bench raised an objection, and the bench retired to consider the matter.

The Magistrates' Clerk said that as regards the applications, they would all be renewed as before, except that the “Granville Restaurant” would pay two-thirds instead of half.

TRANSFER DAYS

The transfer days were fixed as follows. April 5th, June 7th, August 2nd, October 4th, December 6th, and January 24th. The adjourned meeting for renewing licences will be held at the “Balmoral Hotel,” Broadstairs on Wednesday, March 6th, and for hearing new applications at Dover on March 8th.

This being all the ordinary business all the Magistrates then retired except on the Licensing Committee, elected by the rest of the Bench, who only are eligible to deal with new licences. The Licensing Magistrates were as follows: Messrs. W. J. Adcock in the chair, T. A. Terson, W. J. Barnes, J. L. Bradley, H. W. Thorps, and Sir William Crundall.

APPLICATION FOR BOTTLED BEER LICENSES

Messrs. Gardner and Co, of the Ash Brewery applied for an additional licence for their stores in Priory Gate Road, to enable them to sell beer by retail, viz., in quantities of less than three gallons.

Mr. E. Carder appeared for the applicants and stated that Mr. Bradley opposed on behalf of the Temperance Council, whilst Mr. Rutley Mowll represented the interests of another sort of Council. (Laughter.)

Mr. Mowll: The Temperance Council. (Laughter.)

Mr. Hatton Brown gave evidence of the view of formal motives of the application.

Mr. E. Carder said that all Messrs. Gardner and Co. asked for were the same facilities as were given to all the other brewers in Dover, who had applied for the licence, a similar application by them last year having been refused. Messrs. Gardner had conducted business in Dover upwards of 40 years. They found that it was a drawback not to have this licence, which would enable them to carry out the wishes of customers to be supplied with bottled beer in small quantities instead of taking it in the case. He could understand and respect the motives of the opposition of the Temperance Council, but if they looked at it from a reasonable point of view, they would see that granting the licence was not going anything of a drinking licence, but to which would enable people to go to the Priory stores instead of a public house to order bottled beer. He thought that really he was entitled to the support not the opposition of the Temperance Council. The opposition of the Licensed Victuallers was not based on public grounds but simply said, “You have given us facilities but don't give them to anyone else.” He put it to the Bench to attach to the opposition its proper value – that was “Nothing.”

Mr. A. Tilbrook, Brewers House, Ash, and Secretary to Messrs. Gardner and Co. Brewers produced the dealers licence of the premises in Priory Gate Road, and also a certificate of the rating at £100 gross and £80 net. There was a very considerable increase in the demand for bottled ale for private use in preference to small casks of ale. They were often asked for a dozen or less of bottled ale, their present licence limiting them to three dozen or 4½ gallons cask. Not having such a licence greatly prejudiced them in their business, as all the brewers except themselves had such a licence.

Cross-examined by Mr. M. Bradley. He could not advance any new grounds for the application this year except that they had further experience of demand for this class. They could supply the same quantity in bottles as in casks, but they were asked for a smaller quantity of bottles as they occupied more room than the casks, and also did not keep so well.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll: One of the reasons they asked for it was that others had it. People, however had tastes for certain ales.

Mr. Mowll: Then it is because of the quality of Messrs. Gardner's beer that you make this application.

Witness: Mr. Mowll, you have hit it exactly. (Laughter.)

Mr Mowll: But your beer is so nice it will not keep.

Witness: Our beer, like other people's, does not keep the time attained to in casks.

The Chairman: he does not want it to keep. (Laughter.)

Mr. Mowll: At Wingham you complained to the Magistrates that the bottled beer trade was being done in the Ash district by people who had no licence there.

Witness: We did and we stated that they paid no rates and taxes, whilst we had to.

Mr. Mowll: But you want to do just the same at Dover as you complain of in Ash?

Witness: The distance is greater.

Mr. Mowll asked if, in consequence of the licence granted at Wingham, the beer could not be sent from Ash in the small quantities that it was allowed were required?

Witness said, that they only sent in from Ash twice a week, and customers would not wait.

Mr. M. Bradley said he opposed the licence on behalf of the Dover Temperance Council. There was even less reason for it being granted than last year, because last year there was a witness who said that the doctors recommended Gardner's beer, and if people did not get it they would die. (Laughter.) But he did not think the death rate had gone up in consequence of the Bench refusing last year to grant the licence. (Laughter.) he contended that there was no reason, because they had granted additional facilities three years ago, they should grant more now.

Mr. R. Mowll, on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers said it was all very well to attempt to chat away their opposition. They were the most heavily rated, and harassed body of individuals in the Kingdom. They had already felt the competition of certain brewers in the town. Were they going to increase their disadvantages? The great majority of them were tied, and in some cases their own brewers had been competing against them and selling at the very same price as the publican had to buy. Nothing would be easier than for the applicants to turn one of their own houses into a store for the purpose they asked. When the last licence was granted, the present policy of taking away licenses had not been commenced. They had already permission to sell three doors from Priory Gate, and they had been granted permission at Wingham to sell any quantity from Ash in Dover without a licence, and he should contend that this was a licence they ought not to grant. This was the only kind of licence that did not have to tribute to the compensation fund.

The Magistrates retired, and on returning stated that they had decided to grant the application on condition that the beer was supplied in bottles, and not in jars, the same condition as was made when the licence was granted to Messrs. Rigden and Co.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 22 February, 1907. Price 1d.

LICENSED HOUSES – POLICE REPORT

Superintendent Chaney reported that there were 92 licences, all of which had been well conducted. Six persons had been proceeded against for drunkenness. There had been seven transfers during the year.

Superintendent Holland reported that there were 16 licences in his division, all of which had been well conducted. There had been one conviction of drunkenness, one less than last year.

LICENCES RENEWED

The Chairman said that the reports were very satisfactory. All the licences would be renewed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 22 March, 1907. Price 1d.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC HOUSE

Last night at the Salem Chapel lecture Hall, Mr. J. J. Stark, Secretary of the temperance Legislation League, delivered a lecture entitled “The Public House, and what to do with it.” The Rev. W. Holyoak presided.

The lecture described at considerable length the policy of the League, which aims at extensive reforms in the Licensing laws. The chief remedy that the League advocated was a system of disinterested control of the sale of liquor. The lecturer said he would not be satisfied with the abolition of drunkenness. He thought that the natural tendency of the physique of the nation was to be able to take large quantities of liquor without becoming drunk. He wanted the undue consumption of liquor to be stopped. Disinterested management of public houses would, he thought bring about this result. Local option was advocated by the League, because they recognised that different opinions were held in different parts of the country. Bournemouth would be in favour of Sunday closing. It was said to be the place where the old lady lived who was so Sabbatarian that she would not eat eggs that were laid on a Sunday. (Laughter.) In Dover, he thought, it would be of more benefit to close earlier on Sunday.

At the close of the lecture questions were invited, and a general discussion took place, those taking part included Messrs. E. Chitty, A. Bradley, T. Nash, Gwyer, Webb the Rev. Taylor, etc.

From Dover Express 12 July 1907.

DOVER PUBLIC HOUSE REDUCTION.

The previous action of the Dover Magistrates in refusing the licences of the "Nottingham Castle," Adrian Street, the "Star," Trevanion Lane, the "Comet," Priory Road, and the "Volunteer," London Road, was at the Licensing Committee of the County Magistrates yesterday at Canterbury, confirmed, the owners making no objection.