MR. JOSEPH PEASEI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to checking the abuses arising from the existence of clubs supplying intoxicating liquors during all hours, the Government will consider the advisability of introducing a clause into their licensing measure which will afford facilities to the police to visit all clubs possessing Excise licences; and whether they will empower the Licensing Authority to prohibit the supply of intoxicating liquors on evidence of misconduct in any such club?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTAs licences are not granted for these places, the Local Authority does not possess power to do as the hon. Member suggests. I gather that my hon. Friend wants generally to know whether some authority should not be taken to deal with these clubs. I am strongly of opinion it should, and I think in that the noble Lord the Member for South Paddington agrees with me, as he introduced a measure upon this question which, in my opinion, is a difficult one and of great importance.