§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the 274 Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the circumstances attending the transfer of a liquor licence in Liverpool on 21st June, in which the magistrates granted a licence to certain premises known as the Belgrave Hotel, situate in Bryanston Road, St. Michael's, by way of transfer from premises in Renshaw Street, two miles away; whether he is aware that the applicant admitted that he took the latter premises two months, before, solely for the purpose of obtaining a transfer to the Belgrave Hotel; and that a licence for this house had been refused year after year for many years, owing to the opposition of the inhabitants, of the neighbourhood; and seeing that on the same occasion the owners of the-premises known as the Belgrave Hotel offered to surrender six licences which they held, on condition that a transfer-licence was granted to those promises, and actually did so on the licence being granted, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolI have made inquiry into this case, and find that the facts are correctly stated by the hon. Member. The course taken by the magistrates appears to be within their discretion, with which I have no power to interfere; and I can take no action in the matter.