§ MR. J. STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Licensing Magistrates of the Tower Hamlets Division, on Monday, 14th March, renewed the licence of a public house known as the "Norfolk Arms," in Bateman's Row, Shoreditch, after sworn evidence had been given that the house was the habitual resort of thieves, and that there were already 24 other public houses or beer shops within a radius of 200 yards, and after a majority of the inhabitants of the immediate neighbourhood had presented a memorial praying the Magistrates not to renew the licence; and whether he 28 can state why the Magistrates, after such evidence and memorial, renewed the licence?
§ MR. MATTHEWSIn regard to the renewal of the licence of a public house known as the "Norfolk Arms," Shoreditch, I am informed by the Magistrates' clerk that a general statement was made before the Bench that this house was "frequented by thieves," but that the evidence failed to establish that statement. The Magistrates do not consider that the fact that licensed houses, more or less numerous, exist in the neighbourhood is to be treated by itself, and in the absence of other reasons, as a reason for taking away the licence of any particular house. The Magistrates are unable to say whether the memorial referred to was signed by a majority of the inhabitants, but point out that under the Licensing Act the only evidence they can receive in opposition to the renewal of a licence must be on oath.