§ MR. EDWIN JAMESsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he is prepared to state the 1353 course Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue with reference to the granting of Licences for the sale of Beer and Wine by retail to the keepers of refreshment houses as indicated by Resolution No. 15, to be proposed in Committee of Ways and Means, and whether he still intends to propose that Resolution to the Committee?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I believe the substance of my reply to the question is already within the knowledge of the hon. and learned Member, inasmuch as he introduced a deputation that waited on me this morning in Downing Street and discussed this important question in his presence. Perhaps it will be convenient if I now state the form in which the question rested when the deputation left me. It represented a large meeting chiefly composed of licensed victuallers, and it was stated on the part of many of them that they thought no change is required in the present law regulating the sale of wine, spirits, and beer. Another portion of that meeting, however, did not appear to be exactly of this opinion; they proposed that it should be compulsory on all victuallers licensed to sell spirits to take out a wine license also. A third portion of the meeting appeared disposed to go still further. They thought it a fair proposal that wine licences should be granted to persons not holding spirit licences, provided they were granted at the discretion of the Magistrates. I stated that I could not agree, and, as at present advised, was not likely to agree with those who think that when we are endeavouring to create an immense extension of the trade in wine, we can leave the law affecting its sale and access to it by the consumer in the present most unsatisfactory state. I assured these gentlemen that, though I could not pretend to enter into any discussion of that general proposition with any expectation of arriving at a different conclusion, yet, as to the various modes of enlarging the means of sale, that was a matter of detail entirely open to further discussion; and I should he very glad to be assisted by the practical knowledge of those who represented the body of victuallers. I also pointed out to them that the Resolution referring to wine licences is one on which no Vote of the House can be taken till a very advanced stage of the discussion of the financial statement, and I promised them that before the Government asked the House to come to any conclusion affecting the pre- 1354 sent state of the law on the sale of spirits and wine, I would take care that the Bill containing all the new regulations should be laid on the table, and if after examining the question in all its details with the assistance of the parties interested, I found there was any essential difference between their views and those of the Government, I undertook that they should have full notice of the intentions of the Government before the House came to any decision that could compromise them. I also took the liberty of suggesting to them that as they were not now agreed they should endeavour to come as nearly as possible to some general conclusions on the subject.