§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)On behalf of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Croydon, I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that Clauses 36 to 42 of the Licensing Bill are solely designed for the registration of clubs which, under the definition contained in Clause 28 of the Licensing Act of 1902, are not conducted in good faith, but are clubs only in name, he will withdraw the clauses referred to from the Bill, or will insert an excepting clause or proviso confining the proposed legislation to clubs not conducted in good faith, and exempting from the operation of the Act the thousands of well-conducted clubs which 518 are frequented by men and women of all classes of society in every part of England.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.The clauses referred to, so far from being "solely designed for the registration of clubs, which are not conducted in good faith," have for their principal object the exclusion of such clubs from registration. There is no intention to hamper the liberties of bona fide clubs, and the Government are giving, and will continue to give, very careful consideration to all proposals which may be made for the improvement of these clauses.