MR. LLOYD MORGAN (Carmarthen, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an application made on Saturday, 8th July, to the Magistrates for the County of Carmarthen, sitting at Carmarthen, by one David Owen, for a renewal of a licence to sell game, which he had held for some years; whether he is aware that it was stated by one of the Magistrates that it was refused upon the ground that such licences encouraged poaching, and that no other reason was 627 given for the refusal; and whether he will inquire if there was any sufficient reason for refusing the licence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.I have been in communication with the Clerk to the Justices, and am informed that the licence was not refused on the ground that such licences encouraged poaching, but that having heard the application on its merits and considered all the facts bearing upon the question, the Justices in exercising their discretion did not think fit to grant the application. The discretion of the Justices is absolute, and they are not bound to assign any reason for the manner in which they exercise it in a particular case.