HC Deb 04 July 1916 vol 83 cc1407-9

A manufacturer's licence for a brewer for sale shall not after the fifteenth day of May, nineteen hundred and sixteen, be granted while this Act is in operation, except to a person holding such a licence and for the same premises as those in respect of which the licence is held.

Sir G. YOUNGER

I beg to move, after the word "licence" ["holding such a licence"], to insert the words "or to his successors in business."

Mr. PRETYMAN

I am advised that these words are unnecessary. Of course, I should naturally accept them if they were necessary, because clearly the point should be covered, but I am advised that the words are redundant.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Sir G. YOUNGER

I beg to move, to leave out the word "as," and to insert instead of thereof the words "or other premises in connection with."

Mr. PRETYMAN

My Amendment at the end of the Clause to add the words "or for premises substituted for those premises" would take the place of this Amendment, if my hon. Friend would agree to it.

Sir G. YOUNGER

I am not quite sure about those words. There are outlying premises and so forth in connection with breweries, and I think we must have both Amendments. Premises in connection therewith as well as premises in substitution for those particular premises should be included if you are to be quite fair in the matter.

Mr. PRETYMAN

The Amendment that I have on the Paper goes quite far enough, and I do not think that we could accept the hon. Member's Amendment in this form. It is rather vague to say "other premises in connection with." There might be stables and all kinds of outbuildings in connection with a brewer's premises. We have considered the matter very carefully, and I have put down an Amendment which I think really does meet my hon. Friend's point. We take the premises which are now being used for brewing, and if the brewer desires to substitute any part of his premises not now so used he can do it.

Sir G. YOUNGER

In my own case there are premises a mile and a half away entered in the Excise regulations. It is not only the brewery, but all the premises, with which you have got to deal.

Mr. PRETYMAN

If they are already licensed, they remain licensed.

Sir G. YOUNGER

It is not a question of licence. They are entered along with the brewery premises, but they are not licensed as such.

Mr. PRETYMAN

They will not need to be.

Colonel GRETTON

There is really something in this point. The question of the premises entered in the licence is really a complicated and technical one and has arisen in the past. These words would really be necessary in many cases, and, if they were not inserted, the hon. Gentleman would be reverting to a state of things which does not now exist, and would be putting brewers in a worse position.

Mr. PRETYMAN

The matter is, obviously, very technical. The object of the Clause is to protect the existing brewing trade and to provide that no premises shall be licensed except those already licensed. That is perfectly simple, and I honestly cannot see the object of the Amendment, but as my hon. Friend raises it from a technical standpoint I am really not qualified to argue it—

Sir G. YOUNGER

Will the hon. Gentleman consider it between now and the Report stage?

Mr. PRETYMAN

It has been carefully considered, and my Amendment is all that we can do at present, but I will have the arguments used by my hon. Friends carefully considered and let them know on the Report stage whether I can accept their Amendment or not.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: At the end of the Clause add the words "or for premises substituted for those premises."—[Mr. Pretyman.]

Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.