§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that it has become the practice of certain liquor-supplying clubs to engage themselves only to buy liquor from specified brewers in return for money accommodation afforded by such brewers by way of loan, mortgage, or bill of sale; that in the last balance-sheet of the North Brixton Gladstone Club it appears that all the beer supplied to the club is purchased from one firm of brewers, and that the same firm is the club's creditor for a large sum of money, as well as the holder of a bill of sale on its property; and whether he will take steps to have introduced into the Government Licensing Bill some Amendment dealing with this practice.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI believe that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. They involve important but very difficult questions. There are already on the Paper many Amendments to the Licensing Bill directed to the object of preventing clubs from coming under obligations to makers of and dealers in intoxicating 242 liquor, and I think the subject is one which can be treated most usefully by discussion in Committee.