The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-06 00:00:00

THE LICENSING ACT AMENDMENT

BILL.

The Timee published the following letter on Tuesday

Sir,—ln confirmation of the views you hold as to
the general popularity enjoyed by the Licensing Act
of 1872, and of the almost universal condemnation
from all parts of the country of the attempt on the
part of the present Government to revise one of its
most important provisions, I enclose a summary of
some of the manifestations of public opinion which
have been made since the introduction of the (so-
called) Amendment Bill. Fourteen religious societies,
including the Society of Friends, and the Clergy of
Oxford and Malvern have petitioned against the exten-
sion of hours.

The Town Councils of Birmingham, Clitheroe,
Hartlepool, Lancaster, Macclesfield, and Salford have
petitioned against that part of the Bill.
Twenty-one Boards of Guardians, including the
Select Vestry of Liverpool and St. Pancras, and the
Guardians of Manchester and Leicester have passed
resolutions opposing any extension of hours.
In 73 boroughs "town meeting,' have been held,
condemning the extension of hours and the distinction
posed to be set up between spirit and beer houses.
proposed
Bradford, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool,
Manchester, and 14 other towns the Mayor presided;
in no ease does it appear that any amendment was
ever proposed.

Meetings of the magistrates of Salford, Manchester,
Liverpool, Bolton, South Shields, Torquay, Devon-

port, Batley, Croyden, Bury, Cheshire, Botbnin,
Bridgewater, P7orrall, Bacup, Huddersfield, Burnley,
:Exeter, Holland (Lincolnshire), Tynernouth, and
Middlesborough have been held condemning the Bill.
At Exeter and by several other benches of Justices the
follawing resolutions have been adopted :
. .1. Yliailbs principle of thellourrflf-rlosingtxed by the
Legislaturets a very desirable one. 2. That the hours of
doting Indicated by the Licensing Act, 1072—vin, on week
days at eleven o'clock p.m , and on Sundays at tell o'clock
p.m., and which have been adopted in Exeter—have worked
satisfactorily, both by improving the character I,f the
licensed houses by promoting orderly behaviour at night in
the public thoroughfares. 3. That it is desirable that all
prendaes, whether public-houses or not, licensed for the sale
of intoxicating liquors by retail, and whether to be consumed
on the premises or not, should open and close at the same
hours (as at present)."
-- - .

Up to the 13th of May no lees than 318 petitions, in
the same Sen.: as the above resolution:4, Imd been pre-
sented to the House cf Commons and 364 different
towns or districts.

There can be no doubt that the above list is very
incomplete and largely defective, and that every illy
the number of public and official bodies who meet to
condemn the bill is greatly increased. Surely, in the
face of such a concensus of public opinion, the Govern-
ment will on Thursday see fit to withdr iw their
suggestion of lengthening hours, and therefore of in-
creased facilities for drinking, and allow matters as
regards the hours of "opening and closing all licensed
houses' to remain as they are.---I am, yours sincerely,
M. P.
House of Commons, June I