The Washington times., 1904-09-04
How the English Public
House System Works.
GETS BIG PROFITS ABROAD
Consul Mahin Throws Interesting Side
light on Bishop Potter's
Experiment.


how advanced thinkers in other parts
OF the world are attempting to solve
the same problem.
A pertinent contribution has inst come
from United States Consul Frank W.
Mahin, at Nottingham, England. who
tells how the British public house trust
Is operated This movement is entirely
separate from the out-and-out temper
ance crusade, which seeks the absolute
extinction of drinking. II aims how
ever. at the same goal by a gradual
process of elimination and absorption.
Young Barmaids Abroad.
He says:
The public house Of Great Britain IS
essentially the same as the saloon of ne
United States. There is the mark ed
difference. however that in Great Brit
ain women are almost as numerous as
men at the drinking bars, and tn, bar
tenders are usually young women. II
Is argued for the barmaids that their
presence tends to preserve order. but
no defense Of female dram drinking is
The public house trust is a trust IN
the interest OF the community. and NOT
for private profit. Its object Is TO re-
duce intemperance by changing the or
binary methods Of conducting public
houses.
Started Twenty-sevel Years Ago.
The origin Of the enterprise dates
back to 1871, when the Rev Osbert Nor
daunt, on his appointment to a parish
In Warwickshire. found himself the
trustee Of a village Inn left by n pre-
Nr-nru for
decided TO run the inn according TO what
Is known as the 'Gothenburg' system. a
system which, II is claimed. trans
formed Norway from the most drunken
to the most sober country I'm Europe-
the main principles adopted being that
the liquor should be Of good quality and
the manager should have no interest in
its sale.
This experiment was followed bv
others, notably that at Elan Valley
where the Birmingham watervorks
committee established a canteen for
the use Of its workmen, which led to
the formation by the Bishop of Ches-
ter and Colonel Craufurd. in 1896. Of
he Peoples Refreshment House Asso-
,iation. Its aim was to give wider IA
,ilities for the adoption of the svstar,
II public house management with linn
Ntu pACiAtSs d4Ied0y successfully at
, ork IN various parts OF the United
Kingdom
Lord Grey's Work.
THE successful experiments Of the
Peoples Refreshment House AssocIa-
ion led Lord Grey. In 1901, to form.
purely as a propagandist society. the
Central Public House Trust Association.
or the purpose Of inaugurating a public
house trust company in every county.
he county as a unit being an essential
eature Of the scheme Beginning with
northumberland, Kent, Durham and
Sorth Yorkshire. local trusts have now
'een established in every county In Eng
ana. except Leicestershire. Oxfordshire,
Serkshlre and Buchinghamshire Trusts |
ave also been formed in Ulster Dire
and and in South Wales. In Scotland
where the movement has established it.
Ell strongly and number of trust
Ompanies are working, Scottish Cen
raj Association has been formed this
ear TO spread trust principles and 10
eguIate public opinion with the view
I arriving at the best form Of public |
management
at the present time about one hum
ired and fifty public houses are under
rust management. This number is /
KEY to be largely increased In the |
iear future, as landowners are more
md more approaching the advantages |
o village or neighborhood of trust /
management and are Offering their pub
ic houses 10 the local trusts as the /
resent tenancy agreements expire"
Rules of Operation.
The underlying principles enforced by |
he Public House Trust Association are |
Is follows:
The general arrangement and man
cement of the house shall be on the |
ines Of a house Of refreshment instead /
4 n mere drinking bar.
Food and good variety Of nOnintoxi- |
ant drinks shall be as easily accessi-
lie TO customers as beer and spirits.
The licensing laws enacted BY parlia-
nent for the regulation Of public houses |
nd the promotion OF temperance shall /
e most strictly carried out In every
articular.
A holder OF a license is IN n sense n
ervant of the public and he must study
he comfort. Well-being. and health OF
is customers. his house must therefore
lost used by the public must be com
Ortably arranged. well warmed in win
err and well ventilated.
Guarding the System.
THE manager Of the house receives
fixed salary, with inducements to push
he trade in food and nonintoxicants,
Ut With 10 interest III Allt sale or 1lCO-
olics." continues Consul Mahin. "A
ystem OF inspection guards against
buses and mismanagvmen An in
pector visits thesnouse without previoust
office. takes samples Of the liquors, ex-
mines the quality of the food and
rink, and goes thoroughly over the
TemiseS.
1T Is not the purpose to establish
ew public houses. but only TO acquire
! the case Of new licenses which the !
uthorlties intend granting-these the
ssOCiatiOn VIII try 10 secure. II may. !
owever open new refreshments rooms |
)r the sale OF food and nonIntoxi-
ants
The capital is raised by subscriptions
lT shares in the trust ComDanies /
)rmed in the various counties. The
)tal subscribed capital at present
10 l.5OO, 600. The company in
ich county Is governed by a council.
which the lord lieutenant OF the
)unty is eX-OhiciO the head. and bV !
ustees directors. and other of1cers
monB whom are usually the most ais
nguished men Of the country.
A Thousand Subscribers.
The total number Of subscribing
embers is now nearly 1000. The shares
re allotted on such conditions as to ,
We the council a voting power. enab- ]
lg IL to prevent the trust from getting
to the control Of persons who might ;
'e II for their private purposes Tho !
aXimum dividend payable to the share ]
olders is per cent. g surplus profits ,