§ LORD EDWARD THYNNEsaid, he rose to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Magistrates will have any control over Licenses to sell Wine granted to Confectioners, Eating-house Keepers, and others in towns, boroughs, or rural districts, and, if not, what remedy is proposed against those persons if they keep disorderly houses or harbour persons of bad character?
§ SIR DE LACY EVANSsaid, he also wished to inquire whether it is proposed to introduce any Bill during the present Session with reference to the general licensing system by Magistrates; also, what provisions will be made respecting the 15th and 16th clauses of the Budget; and what arrangements arc contemplated as to withholding Licences from persons who may desire to avail themselves of the advantages offered by the admission of Foreign Wines, &c.?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERProbably, Sir, the most satisfactory reply which I can give to these questions will be this general answer, that before I ask the House to come to any Vote on the subject of licences for the sale of wine in eating-houses, I shall lay on the table, probably in the shape of a Bill, all the regulations we propose to apply to eating-houses which have received wine licences, so that all who are interested in the subject may have an opportunity of understanding fully the views of Her Majesty's Government, But looking at the question as it stands, I should say that it would certainly be most desirable that Magistrates should have every facility given them both for preventing originally the granting of licences to persons of bad conduct, or those keeping houses frequented 1840 by disorderly persons, and likewise for enforcing the laws against them in the most stringent manner after such licences had been received.