§ MR. CAINEasked the Judge Advocate General, How many troops are usually stationed at Alders hot; how many punishments have been inflicted on soldiers at Aldershot during the year 1881, and how many of these were for drunkenness; how many public houses and beerhouses there are in the district of Aldershot; and, how many publicans and beer sellers have been brought before the magistrates of Aldershot during 1881, charged with permitting drunkenness on their premises, or supplying liquor to drunken persons?
§ THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN)Sir, as the Question has been some time on the Paper, I am anxious to answer it as far as I can, although in one particular I cannot at present give my hon. Friend the entire information he asks for. The average number of men stationed at Aldershot during the year 1881 was 11,639. I cannot as yet state the number of punishments either for drunkenness or other offences inflicted on these men during the same period. Some of the regiments stationed at Aldershot are at present abroad; and although I have written for the information required, I have not yet received it—the fact being, I suspect, that the military authorities 1527 to whom I have applied have their hands full of other matters at present. All I can say is that my hon. Friend shall have the information as soon as I get it myself. With regard to the remainder of the Question, the word "Aldershot" is a somewhat vague one; but I assume that by it is meant the two parishes in which the camp is situated—namely, Aldershot and Farnborough. The total number of licensed public-houses in these two parishes is 49; of beerhouses licensed to sell beer on the premises, 51; beerhouses licensed to sell beer off the premises, 28; grocers and confectioners licensed to sell liquor, 9; licensed canteens in camp, 19—total, 156. Not a single licensed person in these two parishes was, during the year 1881, brought before the magistrates charged with permitting drunkenness on his premises or supplying liquor to drunken persons.