The Sun.
London, England, 1830-03-12 00:00:00

LICENSED VICTUALLERS OF PORTS-

MOUTH AND PORTSEA.

A numerous meeting of the licensed victuallers of Ports-
mouth and Portsea took place on Tuesday, the 9th of
March, at the Duke of Clarence Tavern, Queen-street,
Portsea, to take into consideration the propriety of peti-
tioning Parliament against the intended measures for open-
ing the beer trade.
Mr. RORRRT KILN, of the Duke of Wellington Tavern,
was unanimously called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN stated, in a brief and distinct manner,
the object of the present meeting, and the necessity there
was for keeping a vigilant watch when a proceeding was
apprehended en ruinous to the licensed victuallers as that
which has been hinted at in the House of Commons,
namely, the throwing entirely open the trade in beer, so
that any person might sell beer without a Magistrate's li-
cense, and which had been thought of so much import-
ance, as to induce the Chancellor• of the Exchequer to ap-
point a Committee of the House to inquire into the laws
restraining the sale of beer by retail, and to report their
observations thereon. He called en the meeting to act
with firmness and unanimity on a question of such vital
importance to their interests. Ile then stated that the
gentlemen who had taken the lead in convening this meet.
ing had appointed Mr. Archibald Low, as their solicitor,
to conduct the business, who was then in attendance, and
prepared with several resolutions, and a petition, which
he (the Chairman) would propose for their approbation.
Several resolusions were then put, and, after some
amendments, suggested by Mr. Absalom, Mr: Moore, Mr.
Hearn, and others, the following were agreed to :
" That the licensed victuallers have sustained great in-
jury by the sanction which has been given by the Legisla-
ture to the sale of beer by retail, by persons not being li-
censed victuallers, and who are not subject to the same re-
strictions as licensed victuallers.
" That it appears a Select Committee has been ap-
pointed by the Honourable the House of Commons to in-
quire into the laws and regulations which restrict the sale
of beer by retail, and to report their observations thereon.
They are therefore apprehensive that it is in contemplation
to throw still more open the trade in beer by retail.
" That, confiding in the protection which has hitherto
been extended to the licensed victuallers, in exchange for
the restrictions, impositions, and regulations, to which, by
law, they are subjected, very large capitals have been in-
vested by licensed victuallers in the purchase of houses and
premises, and in the improvement and extension of the ac-
commodation thereby offered to the public.
" That, while granting further concessions, or affording
more extensive facilities for carrying on the trade in beer
by retail, by persons not licensed victuallers, would be very
injurious to all, and ruinous to many, engaged in that
business, neither the consumption nor the revenue would
thereby be increased, the price would not be reduced to
the public, nor would any advantage be derived by per-
sons who might be induced to embark in the beer trade.
" That the reduction which has taken place in the con •
smnption of beer is not to be attributed to any restriction
as to the sale thereof, but to the reduction of the duty on
wine and spirits, and the consequent low prices thereof,
without a correspondent reduction of the duty on beer;
and also to the increase of private brewing, which is not
subject to duty as beer manufactured by common brewers,
and which, consequently, affects the consumption of beer
sold by licensed ♦ictuallers.
" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the most and
only effectual means of increasing the consumption of beer
will be in the lowering the duties thereon, and the making
of such legislative enactments as will cause an equal rate of
duty to be paid on beer of the same quality, by whomso-
ever it may be brewed.
" That a petition, founded upon the aforegoing resolu-
tions, be presented to the Honourable the House of Com-
mons. _ . .

" That the petition now read be the petition to be pre-
sented to the Honourable the House of Commons; and
that the Members for the borough of Portsmouth be re-
spectfully requested to present and support such petition ;
and that the Members for the county be also respectfully
solicited to support the prayer of the said petition.
" That the aforegoing resolutions be signed by the
Chairman on behalf of the meeting, and copies thereof,
and of the petition, be sent to the Editors of The Sun and
British Traveller."
(Signed) ROBERT KILN, Chairman.
The thanks of the Meeting were voted to the Chairman
for his services at the Meeting, and for the zeal and atten-
tion which he had at all times manifested for the interests
of the trade.
Also a vote of thanks to Mr. Hearn, for calling the
meeting, and for the active part be had taken in the

business.
The following is a copy of the petition :
'• TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT' BRITAIN AND
IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.
" THE HUMBLE PETITION OP THE SEVERAL PER-

SONS WHOSE NAMES ARE HEREUNTO SUE

SCRIBED, BEING LICENSED VICTUALLERS RE•

NIDENT IN PORTSMOUTH AND PORTSEA, WITHIN

TII I BOROUGH OF PORTSMOUTH, IN THE

COUNTY Or SOUTHAMPTON.

" Sheweth,—That your petitioners have heard that
your Honourable House have appointed 'a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into the laws and regulations which re-
strict the sale of beer by retail, and to report their observa-
tions thereon to your Honourable Iloute.
" That your petitioners have sustained great injury by
the sanction which has already been given by the Legis-
lature to the sale of beer by retail by persons not being
licensed victuallers, and n•ho are not subject to the same
restrictions and liabilities as licensed victuallers are.
" That, confiding in the protection which has hitherto
been extended to the licensed victuallers, in exchange for
the restrictions, impositions, and regulations, to which by
law they are suhjected, many of your petitioners have in-
vested sums of money in the purchase of houses and pre-
mises, and in the improvement and extension of the accom •
modation thereby afforded to the public.
" That granting further concessions, or affording more
extensive facilities for carrying on the trade of beer by
retail, by persons not licensed victuallers, would
be very injurious to all, and ruinous to many of your peti-
tioners; that the consumption or revenue would not
thereby be increased, there being in these towns upwards
of thirty retail brewers at this time ; the price would not
be reduced to the public, nor would any advantage be de-
rived to persons who might be induced to embark in the
beer trade.
" That the reduction which has taken place in the con-
sumption of beer is not to be attributed to any restriction
in the sale thereof, but to the reduction of the duties on
wine and spirits, and the consequent low prices thereof,
without a correspondent reduction in the ditty on beer,
and also to the increase of private brewing, which is not
subject to duty as beer manufactured by common brewers,
and which consequently affects the consumption of beer
sold by licensed victuallers.
" That the most and only effectual means of increasing
the consumption of beer will be found in the lowering of
the duties thereon, and the making of such legislative
enactments as will ensure an equal rate of duty to he paid
on beer of the same quality by whomsoever such beer
shall be brewed.
" Your petitioners, therefore, most humbly pray that
your Honourable House will not sanction any mea-
sure whereby the retail trade in beer may be in any
degree thrown open, so as to injure or affect the inte-
rests of your petitioners.
" And your petitioners shall ever pray."

- _
LICENSED VICTUALLERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—Being an old subscriber to your valuable and in-
dependent 3nurnal, I beg leave, through its medium, to
make a few observations respecting the anticipated altera-
tion in the system of licensing public-houses. 1 am a
licensed victualler, but I am no advocate of that abominable
and detestable monopoly which the government has suffered
too long to exist, but which, I trust, is now nearly at an
end. My principal object is to reply to the observations
made use of at the late meeting of the licensed victuallers
of the metropolis, wherein they state that they considered
the passing of Mr. Estcourt's bill as a guarantee that the
government would not again meddle with the licensing
system, and consequently the present monopoly was to en-
dure for ever; that they considered themselves perfectly
protected by government when they gave high prices for
licensed houses. Such arguments, enervated by the absence
of reason, must perish like the airy bubbles on the dim-
pled stream; for it is well known that the government has
nothing to do with the licensing of public-houses, and that
the real value of their property has always depended on the
will of the magistrates, in whom are vested the power of
granting new licenses ; but that power, I trust, will soon
be taken away; and those persons who have licensed
houses of their own can only complain that they have been
unfortunate in their speculations. For it must be a folly
to suppose that the government will be retarded in its good
purposesto relieve the distresses of the country, for the sake
of preserving inviolate the property of a few individuals,
who have no one but themselves to blame for giving such
• high prices for licensed houses. But, suppose, if we
Make the whole number of public-houses in the country,