§ MR. BOLCKOWasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been drawn to the great increase of wine and spirit licences to grocers and other shopkeepers; and, whether he intends to propose some alteration in the Licensing Laws, giving to magistrates power to refuse applications as in the case of public houses and beer houses?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, the attention of the Government had been called to the subject by the proceedings at the various quarter sessions in the country, and all he could say at present was that the matter deserved serious consideration, and was at the present moment receiving it.