From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 January, 1918.

FIRST DRUNK AT CHRISTMAS

At the Dover Police Court last Friday, before Messrs. W. J. Palmer (in the Chair) and W. D. Atkins.

Nicholas Gower was charged with having been drunk and incapable in Snargate St.

P.C. Hicks said that at 9 o'clock the previous evening he saw the prisoner in Snargate St. standing up against a wall in a stooping position. Witness found that he was drunk and incapable, and he was brought to the Police Station on the ambulance.

The Chief Constable said that this had now broken their Christmas record. He could not understand where this man had got his drink from, as nearly all the houses were closed, but he was heavily drunk, and made a horrible mess in his cell. It was the first case of drunkenness as (the Chief Constable) had had this Christmas: In fact, he had not met a civilian the worse for drink this Christmas.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 February, 1918.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

There was only one case of drunkenness during the year. The Bench congratulated the Police for the excellent record and decided to renew all the licenses.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

GREAT DECREASE IN DRUNKENNESS

The annual Dover Licensing Sessions were held in the Town Hall on Monday, at noon. The Magistrates were as follows: Sir William Crundall (in the Chair), W. J. Barnes, A. Clark, W. D. Atkins, H. Hobday, W. Bradley and W. Brett. The business was largely formal, and the whole Sessions did not last for more than twenty minutes.

The Chief Constable read the following report:- "I have the honour to submit for your information the annual report under the Intoxicating Liquor Laws and Orders by the Central Control Board. The houses have been conducted satisfactorily with the exceptions of the following persons, who have been proceeded against for infringement of the Board's orders:- On September 14th, 1917, Henry Thomas Weeks and his wife Florence Weeks, of the "Salutation Inn," Biggin Street, were summonsed. Mr. Weeks for permitting and Mrs. Weeks for supplying intoxicating liquor to a person during restricted hours under the Board's orders, the case against Mr. Weeks was dismissed, and Mrs. Weeks was fined 40s; the house has since changed hands. On the 20th March, 1917, Arthur Williams, of the Union Hotel, Commercial Quay, was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises, he was fined 20s. Notice of appeal was given, and at the Quarter Sessions the appeal was allowed; and the house, which had been placed 'out of bounds' by the Competent Military Authority, was placed 'in bounds' owing to the decision of the learned Recorder. Three men who were found drunk on the premises pleaded guilty and were each fined 5s. The "Burlington Inn," Castle Street, mentioned in my report of last year as being 'out of bounds' is still under the restrictions of the Competent Military Authority. The under mentioned houses have been placed 'out of bounds' during the year by the Competent Military Authority; The Albion, East Cliff, from March 13th to April 11th, the Avenue, Snargate Street, from January 6th to April 6th; the Barley Mow, Strond Street, from January 30th to April 30th; the Pavilion Hotel, Custom House Quay, from February 5th to June 7th; and the Trocadero, Snargate tree, from January 6th to April 6th. The New Inn, York Street, mentioned in my report of last year as being 'out of bounds' was placed 'in bounds' on February 10th last. 2,543 visits to licensed premises were made this year, against, 2,296 the previous year; 67 visits were made to thirteen clubs, last year, 96. Eighteen fully licensed premises, two of beer and two of beer and wine licenses have changed hands during the year. There are in the Borough 143 fully licensed houses; on and off beer houses, 5; off beer houses, 10; confectioners' licences, 3; shops, 11; a total of 172 licences. Drunkenness 1915, males 108, females 31, total 139; 1916, males 27, females 15, total 42; 1917, males 16, females 6, total 22. The reduction in the cases of drunkenness I attribute to the restrictions placed upon the trade. The population last census was 43, 645; population to each licensed house, 253.75; drunkenness per thousand of the population, 0.50. I respectfully submit that no houses shall be sent for compensation this year having in view the reduction in the cases of drunkenness and the difficulty of differentiation caused by the restricted hours." The Chief Constable said that the only house now 'out of bounds' was the Burlington Inn, Castle Street, which was 'out of bounds' not through misconduct but because of the structural conditions of the premises. The Magistrates had approved of it but the Military Authorities did not, on account of there being a through passage.

Mr. J. H. Monings of Ringwould, said that he wished to object to the renewal of the licenses of the "Lord Nelson" and the "King William IV," at Ringwould. They had two or three public houses to a population of 200.

The Magistrates' Clerk said that it would be necessary for notice to be given.

It was decided that all existing licenses should be renewed with the exceptions of  those two at Ringwould, and that their renewal would be considered on March 1st, at the Adjourned Sessions and, in the meantime, Mr. Monins could give notice of objection.

On the question of the early morning licenses, Mr. Edward Chitty asked that the names of these be read, as, in the event of conditions becoming normal, they might again be used. Some of the houses were entitled to open at 3 a.m. and others at 5 a.m.; but the Chief Constable said that in none of them could intoxicating liquor be sold. - The early morning licenses were renewed.

The refreshment rooms at the Harbour Admiralty Pier and Prince of Wales Pier Stations were allowed a remission of the compensation levy to the extent of one-third. The Granville Restaurant was also allowed a similar concession.

The Adjourned Sessions at Broadstairs will be held at 5 p.m. on February 20th; and the Adjourned Sessions at Dover on March 1st. The special Sessions for transfer will be held on April 12th, June 7th, August 2nd, October 4th, December 6th, 1918, and January 10th, 1919.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 March, 1918.

ADJOURNED LICENSING SESSIONS

The adjourned licensing sessions were held at the Town Hall on Friday last before Sir William Crundall ( in the Chair), Messrs. W. J. Barnes, H. F. Edwin, C. J. Sellena, F. W. Prescott, H. Hobday, F. G. Wright, Edward Chitty, C. E. Beaufoy, A. Clark, W. N. Atkins, W. J. Palmer and Dr. C. Wood.

Mr. Mowll asked that the licence attached to the Navy and Army Canteen Board premises in Market Lane should now be temporarily transferred to Mr. A. Wild as the Area Manager to whom it was previously temporarily transferred, Mr. Stagg, had had a nervous breakdown, and had to go away.

Mr. I. Davis applied to transfer his licence at Last Lane, to Mr. Wraith.

Mr. Edward Chitty contended that it could be refused, as it was a grocer's licence.

Mr. Harby said that it had nothing to do with a grocer.

Sir William Crundall said that the licence was for a wine and spirit shop, which was a separate business altogether.

Mr. Chitty contended that whisky and butter could be purchased in the same shop.

The Chief Constable said that that was not so.

Mr. Chitty contended that the licence could be quashed as a grocer's licence at any time; but the Magistrate's Clerk would not fully substantiate it, stating that the licence aught to be objected to at the Annual Licensing Sessions.

Mr. Chitty said that the Magistrate's Clerk was apparently uncertain of the law, and he moved that it be adjourned to the next transfer day, in order that the law might be ascertained. It was a business that had been suspended, and was not in being now, and was a licence which could properly be refused.

Mr. Wraith said that the amount of liquor allowed to the premises was at the present moment being distributed by another firm and that there would not be any increase to the consumption of liquor.

Mr. Prescott seconded the motion.

Mr. Brett moved that the licence be transferred; and Mr. Barnes seconded. The amendment was carried by 9 votes to 4.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 29 March, 1918.

BEER SUPPLIES AT DOVER

In the House of Commons, on Wednesday last week, Mr. R. McNeill, Member for the St. Augustine's Division of Kent, asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether he was aware of the dissatisfaction caused in Dover by the want of a wet canteen for the Army Pay Corps, numbering some 500men, who, to a large extent monopolise the supplies of liquid refreshment available at Inns like the "Diamond," with the result that sailors from coal boats and mine-sweepers, and others of the general public, were unable to obtain what they required, and whether he would take steps to establish a wet canteen at Dover for the Army Pay Corps?

Mr. Macpherson: The establishment of a wet canteen for any unit is a matter within the discretion of the Commanding Officer. In this instance, the men are billeted in various parts of the town instead of living in barracks or butments, and it was considered not appetent to open a wet canteen. The attention of the Commanding Officer has been called to the fact that beer that should be available for civilian requirements is being consumed by the military, and steps have already been taken for the establishment of a wet canteen.