§ MR. ALLISON (Cumberland, Eskdale)I bog to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the effect of the licensing proposals of the Government, as explained by him at Rawtonstall, will be to establish two authorities with power to diminish the number of public houses, one the Justices with powers to do so without giving compensation, the other the County Council, who are only empowered to do so on giving compensation; and will he explain in what manner he proposes to maintain the two systems side by side without weakening the powers possessed by the present Licensing Authority?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe powers at pre sent possessed by the Justices will not be interfered with, and will be exercised side by side with the employment of the means placed at the disposal of the County Councils for the extinction of licences. The Government do not anticipate that their proposal will in any way weaken the powers possessed by the Justices.
§ MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)May I ask whether it would not be desirable to postpone the proposal in question until the Committee which is to consider the Bill of the noble Lord the Member for South Paddington (Lord R. Churchill) has made its Report?
§ MR. GOSCHENI do not think that my right hon. Friend the leader of the HOUSE would be disposed to assent to that proposal.