§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked the Under Secretary of State for the Homo Department, Whether he is aware that at Peterborough the magistrates have granted to the keeper of an inn an extension of hours for the sale of drink on Good Friday; and, if so, whether there is any provision in any Licensing Act which warrants such magisterial action?
§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON, in reply, said, that he had not been able to verify the statement embodied in the hon. Baronet's Question, and could not say whether the magistrates had granted the extension referred to or not; but if it was the case, he would point out that under the Licensing Act of 1874, Good Friday and Sunday were placed on the same footing. On the other hand, a section in the Act of 1872, under which occasional licences were granted, was expressed in general terms, and under that section the magistrates had absolute discretion to grant licences for all 231 days. If, therefore, the licence mentioned by the hon. Baronet had been granted, it seemed to be in the discretion of the magistrates to do so; but he had heard of no similar case.