§ 28. Mr. CRAWFURDasked the Home Secretary the grounds on which he wrote recently to the brewster sessions at Buckingham calling upon the licensing justices to show more activity in the quashing of public house licences?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member must have been misinformed. I have not made such a communication as he describes to licensing justices either 2187 recently or at any time. I did address a communication—not of the nature described—to the Compensation Authority in November, 1927, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. CRAWFURDHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to a statement published in the official organ of the trade on 13th April this year in which it is stated that such a communication was sent, as a result of which the justices, to use their own phrase, "Had a look round and pitched on a particular public house," in order to quash a licence and comply with the right hon. Gentleman's letter? I only ask the question in order to inquire if that is the right way in which this judicial function should be exercised?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo. I have not seen the paper in question. It is not one of my usual magazines, or things that I read. If the hon. Member will send it to me, I will see whether there is anything in it which needs attention.
§ Major COLFOXAre we to understand from the hon. Member's question that on the subject of temperance as on other subjects he has broken away from his party?
§ Mr. CRAWFURDOn a point of personal explanation, may I put one supplementary question in order to counteract the effect of the previous supplementary question? If I am in order in doing so, I would only ask if it is not within the right of any Member of this House to draw the attention of the appropriate Minister, in all courtesy, to what he regards as an infringement of the exercise of judicial capacity by any person in this country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have not complained of the hon. Member. If he will let me have the paper, I will consider the matter.