§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a series of decisions reported in The Club and Institute Journal of June 12th to have been recently given by the Rev. Henry Mills, the Chairman of the Board of Magistrates for the Kineton Petty Sessional Division of Warwickshire; whether it is true, as therein reported, that Mr. Mills had refused, on the 26th of May, to exercise his power under the Licensing Act of 1842 to grant an interim authority to the widow of a licensed victualler at Northend to carry on the business of her late husband until the transfer of the licence could be legally effected; and, whether he will communicate with Mr. Mills as to the conduct of the business of the Sessions, and the language which he is reported to have used on the Bench?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT) (Derby), in reply, said, the Secretary of State had no jurisdiction in the case of a magistrate acting as a Licensing Authority. That was altogether different from a case in which sentences were passed. 1842 It was, therefore, not a matter in which the Secretary of State could interfere.