The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-29 00:00:00

-mot C~

[PRICE SD.

THE NEW BEER BILL.

meeting of the licensed victuallers of the metropolis
was held yesterday at the Golden Eagle, Mile-end-road,
f,r the purpose of taking into consideration the present
position of that body with reference to the provisions of
fo
thr
forming themselves into a new society, to be called
"The Licensed Victuallers' Defence kpsociation."• Mr.
Foster, of St. John's-gate, C/erkenwell, presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, stated that
he was sorry to see so small an attendance of persons pre-
sent; but he accounted for it-by meetings baring been
advertised to be held in all the districts of the metropolis,
and not from any lukewarmness in the cause. Their
object in meeting together was to form a society to pro-
tect their interests, and not only theirs, but the interests
Hof the public, which had been most shamefully invaded.
The act which had been passed through the honse in
such a hasty and disgraceful manner would be prejudi-.1
cial to their interests, but would not have the effect sup!
posed, for it gave plenty of time to a drunken man to
get intoxicated, and if it was meant to allow them (the
publicans) time to go to church it was a decided failure,
for they were permitted to open their doors while the
church bells were ringing. If they wanted to make
people go to church, they had better close the public-
houses altogether, and pass an act for that purpose.
Seeing that they were the most heavily taxed trades-
men in the world, that they had to pay for their
licences, and had to put up with all the inconveniences
of the billeting system, he thought it was too bad that
they should be compelled to close their houses without
being consulted, or without at least having some of their
taxes remitted. He concluded by stating that it was
for the interest of all to join this society, and by calling
upon the secretary to read the minutes of the last
meeting.
The minutes having been read,
Mr. SnrEs moved the first resolution, to the effect
" That this meeting, approving of the movement.
made in the formation of the Licensed Victuallers
Defence Society, pledge themselves to do all in their
power to forward the objects of that association.
He complained strongly of the conduct of those who had
pretended to represent them, and stated that it was a
falsehood to describe the tradesmen of the city of Lon-
don as being indifferent to the effect the new bill would
have upon their fellow-tradesmen and the public: The
paper which was supposed to represent them had done
all in its power to crush this new society by putting
forth false and garbled reports of its meetings ; and when
several of its members bad waited upon the Incorporated
Society, who not only took alleading part in that but in
all their other societies, they had been told to keep quiet.
It was disgraceful that the hardworking man who took
his wife and children to Greenwich or Hampstead
should be compelled to go without his refreshment.
They had been told to wait until Parliament met,
but now was the time for agitation, for the working
classes would not take long country walks in Decem-
ber, and he was of opinion that they ought to be
prepared for any emergency, and that they ought to
get up meetings and organisations for the purpose
of having petitions ready for presentation to both houses
of Parliament. If the trade had taken the bill in their
own hands, instead of trusting it to the Protection So-
ciety, it would not have passed in its present form, and
he thought it was very great presumption for a few gen-
tlemen to give their assent to the provisions of such a
bill without calling a general meeting of the trade—it
was, in fact, a presumption which they had no warrant
for taking. It was not only the case of the publicans,
but it was the case of the public. Were the numerous
parties, who went out of town on a Sunday, after work-
ing hard every day in the week, to be bartered away by
three or four gentlemen. (Cries of " Sold," and great
cheering.)
Mr. BUTTERFIELD seconded the motion.
Mr. KINSELLAR said that he had been requested by
Mr. Pitcher, of St. George's-road, to state that several
clubs met at his house and afterwards took excursions
into the country, and on their return they could get no
refreshment. The consequence was to him a loss of
something like 20/. He considered that the public had
a large interest in the matter, and thought they should
have a voice in the decision of this question. There was
no doubt that the Protection Society had passed this
measure, for all that they had done to oppose this
bill was to delay the third reading from nine until ten
o'clock.

Mr. PETO said that he heartily approved of this new
society, arid stated that the only good this bill had done
and would do was to benefit the illicit trader, who had
no property at stake, and who did not care about losing
his license.

The motion was then put, and carried nem. dis.
Mr. GRIMES moved the next resolution, as follows :
" That this meeting, representing as it does both the
interests of the trade and the feeling of the public,
whilst strongly deprecating the silence of the Morning
Advertiser, their supposed organ, with respect to the
late act, and its garbled reports of meetings held to effect
an alteration, does warmly express its thanks to such
portion of the daily and weekly press as has advocated
the justice of the present movement, and faithfully re-
corded matters of such great and universal importance."
He entered at great length into the matters complained
of, and remarked that the paper which was supposed
to represent their interests had completely sold
them. The heads of that paper, who were all con-
❑ected with the Sabbatarian party, had told him, when
he waited upon them in company with a deputation
of other gentlemen that they had better remain quiet
and allow this sop in the pan to be given to the reli-
gious party in the House of Commons, or else they might
suffer when the whole question of the public-houses
came before the Legislature, but was of opinion that
they had taken the sop themselves. That paper had at
first refused their advertisements, but they were after-
wards obliged. Ho concluded by moving the reso-
lution.

Mr. SARRIS seconded the motion, which, after a
long conversation, was put and carried, and the meeting
separated.

THE NEW BEER LAW-WHO IS A TRA-