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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 February, 1924. Price 1½d.
DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS
The annual General Licensing Meeting of the Borough and Liberties of
Dover was held in the Town Hall on Monday, at noon, before the Mayor
(Alderman R. J. Barwick), Sir William Crundall, Messrs. W. J. Barnes, W.
D. Atkins, W. J. Palmer, C. E. Beaufoy, W. Bradley, S. Lewis, A. Clark,
J. W. Bussey, W. B. Brett, T. Francis, F. M. Worsfold, C. J. Sellens, T.
A. Terson and E, Chitty, and Dr. C. Woods.
TRANSFERS AND NEW LICENSES
Mr. W. Evans, of the River and District Co-operative Society, asked for
the renewal of the licence of the Co-operation Hall for music, singing
and dancing; and this was granted.
Mr. Pearce, of the “Kingsgate Castle,” Kingsgate was granted a music,
singing and dancing licence.
DECREASED DRUNKENNESS
The Magistrates Clerk then read the report of the Chief Constable, which
was as follows:-
“I have the honour to submit, for your information, my annual report
under the Intoxicating Liquor Laws. I am pleased to inform you that the
whole of the houses have been conducted without serious complaint during
the year, with one exception, viz:- On the 20th July, four persons were
summoned for consuming intoxicating liquor otherwise than during the
permitted hour, viz., at 6.30 a.m., on July 10th, at the “Rose and
Crown” public house, Clarence Place, and Charles Vaschel Pearson, the
licensee, was summoned for aiding and abetting them. The case was proved
against each of them, and they were each dismissed on payment of costs.
417 visits were made to licensed premises by the Police during the year.
Seventy special orders of exemption, under section 57 of the Licensing
Act, 1910, have been granted to licensed premises (including 19 clubs),
and 11 occasional licenses, by the justices during the year. Last year,
75 and 17 respectively. Twenty three fully licensed premises and five
shops have changed hands during the year; last year 33 fully licensed
premises and two beer houses. The renewal of the “Two Brewers” public
house, Limekiln Street, was not applied for at the last annual Licensing
Sessions. There are in the Borough:- Fully licensed houses, 139; “on and
off” beer-houses, 5; “off” beer-houses, 10; shops, 11; confectioners, 3;
total 168. Drunkenness:- 1921, males 14, females 6, total 20; 1922,
males 20, females 6, total 26; 1923, males 12, females 5, total 17. Of
those proceeded against for drunkenness, six were residents, eight
non-residents and three soldiers. I should like here to state that, with
the exception of the year 1918 (when 16 persons were proceeded against),
this is the lowest number ever proceeded against for drunkenness in this
Borough. Population, Census 1921, 39,985; population to each licensed
house, 238.1; drunkenness per 1,000 population, 0.42. With regards to
the Standing general Orders of Exemption, granted under Section 55 of
the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, at the last annual Licensing
Sessions, four were granted for licensed premises to open between
half-past three and six o'clock in the morning, and four others to open
between five and six o'clock in the morning, and from observations I
have kept, none of them have availed themselves of the exemption, with
one exception, the “Rose and Crown” public house, Clarence Place (and
then only occasionally), and I respectfully recommend that these
exemptions be not renewed. The under mentioned houses were closed on the
29th December last under the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910:- The
“Providence Inn,” Trevanion Street, the “Marquis of Waterford” public
house, Union Row. This makes a total of 42 houses having been closed by
the Compensation Authority, and the renewal of 14 others not having been
applied for, this makes a grand total of 56 licensed houses having been
closed in this Borough since 1904. I have selected no licenses for
compensation this year, but I respectfully suggest that the licenses of
the “Harp Hotel, Strond Street, (which has been closed since 1904), the
“Dover Castle Hotel,” Clarence Street (which has been closed since
1910), and Allsopp's Stores, Strond Street (which ahs been closed since
1920), be not renewed. The first two named are vacant premises, and
owing to the great shortage of houses could well be turned into
restoration flats, but Allsopp's Stores are now let, I believe on a
three years' lease, to a foreign firm of sausage manufacturers, and the
license is not being used.
Charles Green, Chief Constable.”
Councillor Barnes: A very satisfactory report, Mr. Mayor.
The Mayor: Yes. I think it speaks well for the town.
The Magistrates' Clerk said that the report had been adopted at the
meeting of Magistrates, and all the licences would be renewed except the
“Harp Hotel,” “Dover Castle Hotel,” and Allsopp's Stores. No application
was made for the renewal of those licences.
Certificates, fixing the rate at one third, were granted to the
Admiralty and the Prince of Wales Pier refreshment rooms, on the
application of Mr. Mowll, and also special certificates for an extra
hour in which intoxicating liquors could be consumed with meals to the
“Lord Warden Hotel,” the “Burlington Hotel,” and Messrs. Igglesden and
Graves.
The special facilities granted to the “Lord Warden Hotel” and the
“King's Head Hotel,” to supply cross-Channel passengers with
refreshments, were renewed.
CLOSING HOURS UNALTERED
The Magistrates then heard arguments for and against the re-granting of
an extra hour after 10 p.m.
The Rev. W. Holyoak spoke on behalf of the Dover Free Churches and also
presented a petition, signed by 65 persons in Broadstairs, against the
extensions of the hour to 10.30 p.m. Dealing with the arguments which
had been used in favour of the extension, the case of the motorist had
been mentioned, but he was sure there were none who would not sooner be
driven by a driver who had not been drinking late. The Summer Time Act
had been mentioned as a reason for the extension of the hour, but if
that argument was continued, by the time they arrived in the land of the
Midnight Sun there would be no closing hours at all. (Laughter, and
hear, hear). The need of those leaving places of entertainment had also
been used in support of the extension, but he had often presided at a
deacons' meeting which had lasted from 7 to 10 o'clock, and he had never
known it to cause any of then to turn into a restaurant afterwards. (Laughter.) The
Borough was to be congratulated on the decline in drunkenness, but he
submitted that it was largely due to unemployment, and the decrease
would have been far greater had the half-hour been knocked off.
Posterity would rub its eyes and wonder that there had ever been drunken
people, or the necessity for him to come and address intelligent
Magistrates, as he had that morning. He hoped they would consider the
matter in the interests of the public, and not the publican.
Mr. Shea, on behalf of the licensed victuallers of the Liberties, asked
for the continuance of the extra half-hour. As a life long teetotaller,
he thoroughly disagreed with the previous speaker. (Laughter.) People
could not be made sober by Act of Parliament, but by precept and
example.
Mr. R. Mowll, on behalf of the Dover Licensed Victuallers protection
Society, also asked for the continuance of the extra half hour, and
urged, in support, the special circumstances connected with the large
numbers engaged in Continental traffic coming off work at 10 o'clock,
and that the privilege granted last year had not been abused. Speaking
of the Rev. W. Holyoak's remarks about deacons' meetings, he said that
he could hardly imagine one of those officials getting up and asking to
be excused to go and get a whisky and soda, and he was afraid if one did
that gentleman would not be very long in office. (Laughter.)
The Magistrates retired, and were absent ten minutes.
The Mayor, on returning, said: The decision is 10.30 p.m.
The following dates were fixed as special sessions for transfers:- April
4th, June 6th, August 15th, October 3rd, December 5th, 1924, and January
9th, 1925.
The adjourned meetings were fixed for February 20th at Broadstairs, and
March 3rd at Dover.
The Licensing Committee then sat to hear applications for removals and
new licenses.
A PIER LICENCE
Mr. Rutley Mowll applied, on behalf of Messrs. A. C. Leney and Co., for
the removal of the licence of the “Archliffe Fort Inn" from one side of
the spur at the Viaduct to the other, rendered necessary by the
arrangement of the railway services at the Pier.
There was no opposition; and the application was granted, and plans
approved.
Mr. Rutley Mowll applied for a licence, on behalf of Mr. A. B. C.
Wilson, Secretary to Messrs. A. C. Leney and Co., to sell spirits etc.,
from their offices. It was a formal application. No Magistrates' Licence
was required if the premises were used solely for the sale of spirits,
but the Excise Authorities objected as “grains” were also sold there.
The application was granted.
LICENCE REFUSED
Mr. John Bramley, grocer, of Westgate-on-Sea, applied for an off-licence
to sell beer, a similar application having been refused last year.
Applicant stated that the nearest licensed premises were three quarters
of a mile away, and this was to serve a “little colony” outside
Westgate. Mr. Milner Pugh opposed on behalf of the “Station Hotel;” but
there were no Police objections.
The application was not granted, the Magistrates considering that the
time was not opportune.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 February, 1924. Price 1½d.
WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS
A sitting of the Wingham Petty Sessions was held at the Court House,
Wingham, on Thursday, before Mr. H. Firzwalter Plumptre, Lord
Northbourne, Sir H. Henderson, Messrs. A. H. Godfrey, W. Chandler, W.
Fagg, H. J. May, W. P. Matthews, G. F. Raggett and H. W. Plumptre.
ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING
Supt. Barton, Wingham Division, in his annual report, stated that only
one license had been proceeded against during the year. Two females,
non-residents had been convicted for drunkenness, one from drinking
methylated spirits.
Supt. Ford, Home Division, reported that there had been one conviction
against a licensee and one non-resident female convicted for drunkenness
(consuming methylated spirits), this being the first conviction for
eight years. He had been instructed by the Chief Constable of Kent to
oppose the renewal of the licence of the “Forester's Arms,” Littlebourne.
Supt. Russell, Elham division, stated that there had been no proceedings
against licensees, but one conviction had been recorded against, a
non-resident for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart.
The Chairman said that he was pleased at the satisfactory reports from
the Police. The licenses would all be renewed with the exception of the
“Forester's Arms,” Littlebourne, to which the Police were objecting.
Supt. Ford contended that the licence was not required. The house was
103yds. from a beer house and 600yds. From a fully licensed house. The
licence was continually changing hands. When he served the notice on the
licence, he said that trade was very bad. He was losing money, and he
had to go out to work when he could get it.
The licence was refused.
THE PERMITTED HOURS
Mr. G. W. Hardman, of Messrs. Hardman and Sons appeared on behalf of the
licensed victuallers in the Wingham district to ask for the modification
of the permitted hours of, on week days 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., to 10.
a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays, instead of 12.30 to 2.30 p.m., 12 noon to
2 p.m. No change was desired in the evening.
The Chairman said that the Bench had agreed to hear arguments at Wingham
next month.
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