§ 24. Sir J. D. REESasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) have recently made orders closing for sale of intoxicating liquor certain licensed premises in England, in two cases until 5th April, 1917, and in one case absolutely; that these orders have followed the conviction of the licence-holders for offences against the Board's Regulations, for which offences adequate penalties have been imposed; that the further and much more severe penalties of closing the premises will fall upon the owners of the property 906 who had no part in and were quite unaware that the offences were being committed, and that the orders closing the houses have been made without notice and without any opportunity having been afforded to the owners of being heard; and whether, in these circumstances, and seeing that the question of closing the premises is one which will arise on the next annual application for renewal before the licensing justices, he will take steps to have the orders suspending the licences in question immediately withdrawn?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Central Control Board have only closed premises where such action was necessary for the proper control of the sale of intoxicating liquor. My hon. Friend will recognise that flagrant violation of Orders cannot be tolerated, but if he will give me the particulars of any case in which he thinks the action of the Control Board in closing licensed premises for the sale of intoxicating liquor was not justified, I will inquire into the circumstances.
§ Sir J. D. REESCan the hon. Gentle-may say whether, when the licence holder's offence has been purged by punishment, the Ministry of Munitions proceeds with a kind of Sicilian vendetta against the owner of the premises?
§ Dr. ADDISONI do not know what the hon. Member means.