HC Deb 25 March 1846 vol 85 cc72-3
MR. F. MAULE

moved that the House do resolve itself into a Committee on the Turnpike Roads (Scotland) Bill.

MR. LOCKHART

moved as an Amendment to substitute the words that "the House will resolve itself into the said Committee that day six months." If the Bill passed, he considered that it would not at all diminish the number of toll-houses selling spirits. It was beginning at the wrong end; it would be far better to revise the system of licenses.

MR. F. MAULE

said, the House had already divided upon the principle of the Bill, and he had hoped that there would not have been a second discussion and a second division upon its principle. Except upon public grounds, he should not have interfered in the matter; but there were crying evils arising from the sale of spirits at toll-houses. It was well known to almost every hon. Member present that the practice of selling spirituous liquors at toll-bars was a privilege which at various times had been grievously abused. Some most frightful crimes had been committed in houses of that description—witness the Gilmerton case. Still he thought that a prohibition respecting the sale of refreshments at toll-bars ought not to be rendered universal. Such a privilege, however, ought to be the exception, and not the rule. He should not object to the introduction of a clause giving the magistrates a discretionary power of licensing those houses in certain cases.

SIR J. M'TAGGART

should vote against going into Committee, unless exceptions were made in certain cases.

MR. FORBES

thought it was unnecessary to define the duties of the magistrates in reference to this matter.

MR. P. M. STEWART

was of opinion that refreshments should not be sold at toll-bars unless when they were situate at a great distance from public houses.

MR. FORBES MACKENZIE

was opposed to the Bill, but he thought the whole subject of licenses ought to be into; and if no other hon. Member submitted a Motion to the House for inquiry, he would himself.

MR. HOME DRUMMOND

said, he was glad to hear from the right hon. Gentleman that the Bill was to be so far improved that a modification was to be made of the prohibition of licenses at toll-bars; but still he could not withdraw his opposition. He did not oppose it on the ground of no interference with the system of licensing in Scotland being necessary. On the contrary, he considered the subject full of abuse, and would give his cordial support to the Motion which his hon. Friend the Member for Peebles had expressed his intention to make. This Bill he considered altogether trifling with the subject as to the moral effects to which the right hon. Gentleman attached so much importance, and practically, if it should pass, it would be found useless and unworkable.

The House divided on the Question, that the words proposed to be left out, stand part of the Question:—Ayes, 30; Noes, 18: Majority, 12.

List of the AYES.
Baring, rt. hon. F. T. Hodgson, R.
Bodkin, W. H. Howard, P. H.
Busfeild, W. Jolliffe, Sir W. G. H.
Carew, W. H. P. Labouchere, rt. hon. H.
Courtenay, Lord M'Taggart, Sir J.
Denison, E. B. Morrison, J.
Dickinson, F. H. O'Brien, A. S.
Ebrington, Visct. Scrope, G. P.
Ellice, rt. hon. E. Seymer, H. K.
Etwall, R. Stewart, P. M.
Fox, S. L. Strickland, Sir G.
Frewen, C. H. Thornely, T.
Fuller, A. E. Wawn, J, T.
Greene, T.
Grey, rt. hon. Sir G. TELLERS.
Hawes, B. Maule, F.
Henley, J. W. Horsman, T.
List of the NOES.
Arbuthnot, hon. H. Baillie, W.
Arkwright, G. Baird, W.
Boldero, H. G. Packe, C. W.
Buckley, E. Rolleston, C.
Dennistoun, J. Trelawny, J. S.
Egerton, W. T. Wood, C.
Forbes, W. Wortley, hon. J.
Hope, Sir J.
Houldsworth, T. TELLERS.
Lockhart, A. E. Drummond, H.
Mackenzie, T. Mackenzie, W. F.

Clause 2, after three divisions, was struck out.

MR. F. MAULE

said, he should withdraw the Bill. He had done what he could to remove the stigma that attached to making the turnpikes pothouses. After this, if any accidents occurred in consequence of drunkenness at these places, the Government would be responsible for them.

MR. S. WORTLEY

suggested that the whole subject had better be referred to a Committee upstairs. When he found an overwhelming majority of Scotch Representatives against the Bill, he thought himself justified in assisting to defeat it, but he was favourable to the object mainly proposed to be attained.

House adjourned at half-past Four o'clock.