The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-30
Lloyd George Seeks to Abolish
Wine Privileges of Oxford and
Cambridge Universities

by LA MARoUISE DE FONTENOY.
LLOYD GEORGE, the English Chan
cefor OF the EXchequer, is en-
deavoring to do away with one
or the most time honored privileges
Oh the two great Universities of OK
tord and Cambridgo: bit of news
which VIII doubtless prove of inter-
est 10 the considerable number of men
OH this side of the Atlantic VINO have
sraduatel from these two ancient
seats of learning. The prerogatives
In question are tho so-called wine
privileges
bo,n universities are still partially
exempt from the jurisdiction OF the
licensing Justices az regards the
granting ami the refusal of licenses
TO sell wine and malt liquors. Indeed.
until 1890 the University OF oxford
was itself the sole licensing authority
within its precincts. But in that year
this right was transferred to the
corporation of the city of oxford The
vice chancellor of the university still
retains, however. the right to license
three virtners to sell wine. the licenses
so granted enduring for the life of the
grantee, instead of for merely twelve
months, as in the case of the licenses
granted by the city of oxford.
The wine ard ale licenses were orig
inaliy bestowed upon the University
OF oxford by charter OF Charles l.,
dated March 3, 1875; and, although
oxford suffered sadly for its LOYALTY
to this unfortunate monarch during
the days of the Commonwealth. it was
not deprived Of its wine and ale priv
iieges: possibly owing to a sort OF
kindly fellow feeling on the part OF
oliver Cromwell. who, like so many
Of ;he smaller gentry of the seven
teenth century, had been brewer
himself.
Up till 1855 the vice-chancellor of
the University of Cambridge claimed
and exercised the power to license all
alehouses and wine shops i'm Cam
bridge; and when this privilege VIZ
modified by statute, he was allowed
to retain, AS delegate of the chan
cellor. masters and scholars of the
university. the right TO license for
Ire four winners and ale shops. He
is also expected 10 address complaints
In writing 20 the clerk of the licens
ing justices with regard to the con-
Duct OF any alehouse in Cambridge,
and upon the receipt OF such com
plant the justices can at once close
the alehouso In question, canceling its
license, without waiting for the an
nuai date OF renewal.
Naturally. these prerogativcs are
dergraduate of the two universities
in question, and they are all UP in
arms against the Chancellor of the
ENchequers endeavor to abolish them
by means of legislative process The
bill was submitted to the House of
Commons just before the close of the
session by Lloyd George, and was only
turned down by the examiner of bills
owing TO some technical error in its
chepuer will bring it before the House
as soon as ever Parliament meets
again.
The right to sell intoxicants with
out Justices license is still eXer-
cised by TIE houses of Parliament
and the members of the Winners
Guild Of the city of London, that is
to say. the freemen. retain the right
to sell wine and ale free of excise and
justices licenses in the city of Lon
don, and within three miles thereof.
in all port towns" in England, and
in all "thoroughfare towns" on the
two great routes known as the Dover
Road and the Great North Road. This
valuable privilege was conferred by
letters patent under the Great Seal
in the ninth year OF the reign of
James I.
The Winners Guild was first incor-
1863, in which year Henry Picard,
Lord Mayor of London, and master
of the guild entertained four Kings
in its guildhall The guild shares
with the sovereign the right Of keep
ing swans on the Thames, and pos
sesses upward of 500 of these birds,
which. in The United Kingdom, can
only be maintained by means OF
special license obtained from the
crown.
Talking OF these livery companies
or city guilds, may mention that
Lieutenant General Sir Robert Baden
Powell, the successful defender of
Mafeking during the Boer War, and
the organizer and grand master of the
Boy Scout movement, has been elected
master OF the senior and wealthiest
guild in the city. namely, that of the
MERGERS, which dates from lll2, and