§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a publican living at Wel-burn obtained a special licence from the magistrates at Malton enabling him to sell drink in a large room near his house 1376 on the occasion of the County Temperance Demonstration at Castle Howard, closely adjoining this room; and, if so, whether the Bench acted in accordance with law in the matter?
§ MR. ASQUITHIt is a fact than an "occasional licence" was granted. I am informed that great inconvenience had arisen on former occasions from the crowded state of the house and the difficulty experienced by the public in obtaining refreshments. The "occasional licence" was granted only for the day, the application being supported by the Superintendent of the Police in the district, who confirmed the difficulty which had arisen on previous occasions in serving the public, owing to the smallness of the ordinary licensed premises. The town is situated a mile outside Castle Howard Park, and is the only town in the immediate neighbourhood. I am not in a position to express any opinion as to whether all the formalities required by the Licensing Acts in the case of the grant of an "occasional licence" were observed.