§ SIR ROBERT HOBARTI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the disturbing effect upon the wholesale wine trade of Clause 21 of the Licensing Bill, he can see his way to distinguish between the wholesale and retail sale, which are now equally authorised by a wine-dealer's licence, so that the holder of a wine-dealer's licence, who would exclude himself and could be excluded from retail sale, could be excluded from the operation of Clause 21.
§ MR. ASQUITHI have given very careful consideration to my hon. friend's suggestion, but its adoption would necessitate a complete revision of the present wine-dealers' and wine retailers' licences, and this would be outside the scope of the Licensing Bill now before Parliament. As it is the clear intention of the clause to confine the Justices' control to sale by retail, it is not, in my opinion, to be anticipated that they would decline to give a certificate in any case in which it is established that the trade to be carried on is to be of an exclusively wholesale character.