§ MR. COLSTON (Gloucestershire, Thornbury)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that some benches of magistrates have decided under section 16, sub-section 2, of The Licensing Act, 1902, that they will not grant a second transfer of a licence until after the 992 expiration of a fixed period, in some I instances as long as two years, from the I granting of a first; and whether, seeing that at least four transfer sessions have to be held annually, he intends to issue any instructions to justices in regard to the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Alters Douglas.) I have no definite information as to the action which Licensing Justices have taken under s. 16 (2) of the Act of 1902; but I presume the hon. Member refers to general regulations made there under "for the purpose of preventing repeated applications" for transfers of licences. Even if the facts in any case indicated that the justices had exceeded their powers, I have no jurisdiction enabling me to issue instructions to them: and I may point out that the enactment enables the justices in their discretion, for good cause shown, to dispense with the observance of any; such regulations in any particular case.