§ EARL COWPERMy Lords, I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill. This is rather a small Bill, but its object is to remedy a practical and a very appreciable grievance. It is recommended by the Society of Chairmen of Quarter Sessions, which is composed of the most able local men in the country, who would not be likely to give other than good advice. The Bill has nothing to do with the main question of licensing. It appears, my Lords, that no justice having any interest in the retail sale of liquor is 94 allowed to act on the Licensing Committee of the district in which his interest lies, or in the neighbouring district. It has been determined that this applies to any magistrate who has shares in any railway company which has refreshment rooms in the district, or, in other words, shares in any railway which runs through the district in which, or near which, this magistrate resides. It is quite clear that the shares in a railway company would not be appreciably affected—would not be affected in the smallest degree—by the amount of liquor sold at these small refreshment rooms, and that his interest in them is nominal. The present state of the law has been found to deprive the licensing committees of the services of many useful men. The Bill which I am asking your Lordships to read a second time provides that a justice of the peace shall not be disqualified from acting for any purpose under the Licensing Acts, 1872–74, or under any Act for regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors, or the granting of licences for such sale, by reason of his holding any share or being otherwise interested (whether beneficially or otherwise) in any railway company which is a retailer of any intoxicating liquor in the licensing district, or in the district or districts adjoining to that in winch such justice usually acts, or which is wholly or partly the owner, lessee, or occupier of any licensed premises. Care has been taken not to alter the Statute more than is necessary, or to weaken the action of the law in other respects. I hope your Lordships will not object to give this Bill a second reading.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I quite agree with the noble Earl opposite. I know from personal experience that very great inconvenience has been caused by the present state of the law. There are so many disqualifications of magistrates from acting on licensing committees that some of the best men for the duty are excluded. I cordially support the second reading of this Bill.
§ * THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Viscount CROSS)My Lords, as chairman of the Society of Chairmen of Quarter Sessions, I highly approve of this Bill. Cases 95 have come under my notice where practically there was no magistrate who could act on account of the disabilities imposed. I welcome this Bill as one which will remove these disqualifications.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (EARL of HALSBURY)I had some doubt as to whether the disqualification referred to was ever contemplated to apply in such cases, but, technically, I suppose it does. The disqualification is certainly one that should be removed.
§ Question put.
§ Bill read a second time.