From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 February, 1931. Price 1½d.

WINGHAM PETTY SESSIONS

Wingham Petty Sessions were held at the Sessions House, Wingham, yesterday, when the annual licensing meeting also took place, before Lord Fitzwalter, Lord Northbourne, Messrs. C. J. Burgess, H. J. May, J. P. King, W. Fagg, Troward Harvey, W. G. Chandler, A. Atkins, and Capt. J. E. Monins.

The Chairman said the Bench had heard the reports of the Police Superintendents as to the licensed houses in the district, and they were glad to notice that they were again entirely satisfactory. They believed that the licensees were doing their best tio carry on their houses in a respectably, satisfactory and legal manner. As long as they did so they would have the support of the bench. All the existing licences would be renewed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 February, 1931. Price 1½d.

DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS

The Annual general Licensing meeting for the Borough and Liberties of Dover was held at the Town Hall on Monday at noon. Sir William Crundall presiding, and the other Magistrates were the Mayor (Councillor F. R. Powell), Messrs. W. J. Barnes, J. W. Bussey, S. J. Livings, T. A. Terson, S. Lewis, H. J. Burton, T. Francis, W. B. Brett, W. J. Palmer, W. L. Law, W. S. Lee, C. W. Chitty, E. M. Worsfold, G. D. Clark, W. Bradley, A. Clark and Dr. C. Wood.

The report of the Chief Constable stated:- "I am pleased to inform you that the houses have all been well conducted generally, but there has been one prosecution. There are:- Fully licensed houses, 130; "on and off" beer houses, 5; "off" beer houses, 9; shops, 11; confectioners, 3; total, 158. Drunkenness:- 1928, males 33, females 5, total 38; 1929, males 44, females 3, total 47; 1930, males 51, females 3, total 54. Of the total number of persons proceeded against for drunkenness, 15 were residents, 32 non residents, and seven were soldiers."

The Chairman: That is fairly satisfactory.

Dover's Sobriety.

Mr. Worsfold said that there was one matter to report. the amount of drunkenness was shown as 1.32 per 1,000 of the population, but he did not think that was quite fair to the residents of the town. If they took the number of residents convicted as the 15, it brought the average much lower than shown, and it spoke well for the sobriety of the town.

The Chairman: Quite.

Mr. R. F. Pain applied for the licence for No.55, London Road to be left over for a month. Mrs. Marsh died last week, and it was intended to ask that the licence should be transferred to the executors. - This was granted.

The magistrates' Clerk said that all the existing licences for the Borough and Ringwould were to be renewed.

Sunday Cinemas.

Mr. Hart, representing the cinemas, was present in Court; but the Magistrates' Clerk announced that all the music, singing and dancing licences would be renewed, and no reference made to Sunday opening.

Certificates fixing the rate to be charged on the compensation levy were granted as before, at one-third to places of entertainment and refreshment rooms, etc., except the "Granville Restaurant" and the "Shakespeare," which were one half, as before.

The Permitted Hours.

Mr. R. Mowll said that his application was that the Magistrates should grant the same hours as last year, and he did not think there was any opposition this year.

The magistrates' Clerk said that he understood the Rev. Walter Holyoak, who usually addressed them, unfortunately, was very ill.

Mr. Mowll said that he was very sorry to hear that, but he was sure that even he would not have been able to resist such a reasonable application.

The Chairman: It is agreed.

the Magistrates' Clerk said that the adjourned meeting would be at Broadstairs on February 18th, at 3 p.m. for renewing in the Liberties, and back to Dover on March 2nd, for hearing any application for new licences in the Liberties.

Priory Station Licence.

The Licensing Committee heard an application by Mr. R. Mowll, on behalf of the Frederick Hotels, Ltd., for the transfer of the licence of the refreshment rooms at the Harbour Station to the refreshment rooms to be erected at the Priory Station. He said that, as they knew, the Priory Station was being rebuilt. It was an extraordinary anomaly that for years the station had had no licence, and in the rebuilding provision was being made for proper facilities for the public. Refreshment rooms were to be provided on both the "up" and the "down" platforms.

Mr. Thomas Rowe, controller to the Frederick Hotels, Ltd., Railway Refreshment Rooms, produced the plans, and said that the proposal was that the approach would be through the booking hall, so that the public could not reach it except by going on railway premises.

The Chairman: Do you think them large enough?

Mr. Mowll said he thought that it would be possible to enlarge them.

The Chairman asked what the elevation was?

Mr. Mowll said that it seemed to be 10ft 6ins.

The Chairman said that it seemed rather low, and he thought that this should be brought to the notice of the authorities.

Mr. Mowll said he understood that there were to be rooms above.

Mr. C. N. Anderson, Assistant Divisional Superintendent, said that he supported the application on behalf of the Railway Company.

Mr. Mowll: During the year 1930 you issued tickets there for 225,000 passengers and collected tickets from 533,000, and that is apart from the season tickets?

Yes.

Mr. Mowll: the Bench, perhaps, also ought to know that at Deal, Folkestone Central, Shorncliff and ramsgate they have the facilities we are asking for here, and the bench might be even more interested to know that the traffic at the Priory Station is very much larger than at any of those stations?

Yes.

The Chairman said that the Committee agreed to the transfer.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 February, 1931. Price 1½d.

NEW LICENCE FOR CHISLET

At the St. Augustine's Pettey Sessions on Saturday, Edwin Manning Edwards, Secretary to Messrs. Shepherd Neame and Co., Limited, Faversham, applied for the provisional grant of an alehouse licence for a public house which it was proposed to erect on the Island Road in the new mining village of Hersden, at Chislet. - Sir Reginald Mitchell Banks, K.C., with Mr. Joseph (instructed by Messrs. Mowll and Mowll) appeared for the Company; and opposition was offered by Mr. Thorn Drury on behalf of the licensees of the "Western Butts," and of the "Royal Oak," Upstreet, and by Mr. H. J. Brancher on behalf of the Western Social Club. There was no police objection. - Similar applications had been made on five previous occasions and had always been refused, but on this occasion, after a hearing lasting 2½ hours, the bench granted the application.

The bench also granted an alehouse licence for the Northlands Place Hotel, Herne Bay, applied for by Mr. Arthur Farnham Fay, on condition that there was no bar and that drinks were only served to residents and visitors taking meals; an off-licence for the sale of spirits to Samuel Alfred Cowell in respect of 12, High Street, Herne Bay; and an off-licence for the sale of wines, spirits and beers to Mr. Wanstall in respect of 9, Broadway Buildings, Herne bay.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 March, 1931. Price 1½d.

ADJOURNED LICENSING MEETING

The adjourned general licensing meeting for the borough and Liberties of Dover was held at the Town Hall, Dover on Monday before Messrs. W. J. Barnes, T. A. Terson, W. B. Brett, W. Bradley, W. L. Law, S. Lewis, C. E. Beaufoy, J. W. Bussey, W. S. Lee and Dr. Wood.

The following licenses were transferred:-

The grocers (sweets) off licence at 55, London Road, from Ann Marsh (deceased), to Hilda Marsh (executrix). The "Invicta," Snargate Street, from Frederick John Askie to George Robert Smith, 33, Ewart Road, Gillingham, and formerly of the "Sir John Falstaff," Dover.

Mr. Reuben Frederick Pearce, of the "Kingsgate Castle," St. Peter's applied as managing director of the North Foreland Hotels, Ltd., for a renewal of the licence to sell intoxicating liquors to residents' and those using the hotel as a restaurant. Mr. Maughan said that the licence was originally for three years and then renewed for five years, and he asked for a further five years. The monopoly value had been agreed with the Customs at £250 per annum. originally it was £50 and then increased to £150.

The Magistrates' Clerk: They have had £750 already.

Mr. Maughan said that there would be a further £1,250.

The licence was re-granted for 5½ years.

Mr. William Fisher, of 6, Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs, grocer, applied for a retail spirits, wine and beer off licence. Mr. J. Thorn Drury made the application, and it was approved by Mr. A. K. Mowll (George Beer and Rigden, "Wrotham Arms"), and Mr. Barnes, for two shop licences, opposed.

The application was refused.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 3 April, 1931. Price 1½d.

PRIORY STATION REFRESHMENT ROOMS

MAGISTRATES' STIPULATION

At the Dover Police Court on Friday, the Magistrates sat to confirm the granting of licenses recommended by the Licensing Committee previously. The Magistrates sitting were Messrs. W. J. Barnes, J. W. Bussey, W. Bradley, C. J. Sellers, W. J. Law, W. S. Lee, T. Francis, W. B. Brett, W. J. Palmer, S. Lewis and S. J. Livings.

Mr. R. Mowll appeared for Mr. T. H. Rowe of the Frederick Hotels, Ltd., for confirmation and sanctioning the removal of the licence of the refreshment rooms from the Dover Harbour Station to the premises about to be constructed at the new Dover Priory Station. He pointed out that the traffic at the Priory Station exceeded that of many other stations in the neighbourhood, even that of Ramsgate. It was curious that at the Priory Station one could not even get a cup of tea, which was an inconvenience to the public. Access could only be made from the station and not from outside.

Mr. W. T. Palmer asked Mr. Rowe if it was usual to allow access to the refreshment rooms without having to pass the ticket collector as was the case here, and Mr. Rowe said that it was so at Ramsgate and Margate. The railway by-law prevented people loitering and the Railway Company would not encourage people on their premises for the purpose of drinking.

Mr. Palmer: But they are getting them there.

Mr. Mowll said that I some cases the entrance was from the road but they were stopping that here.

Mr. Rowe said that every precaution would be taken to see that it was not used as a public house.

Mr. Palmer said that the best precaution would be not to have a door at all from the waiting room.

The Magistrates retired on the matter.

The Chairman, on return, said that the plans were approved, subject to their being no entrance from the booking hall.

Mr. Mowll said that of course people could buy a platform ticket.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 April, 1931. Price 1½d.

LICENCE EXTENDED

The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club applied for an extension to 11.30 on the occasion of the Club Dinner.

The Bench granted the extension until 11 p.m.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 July, 1931. Price 1½d.

SAID HE WOULD JUMP INTO THE DOCK.

At the Dover Police Court on Thursday, before Messrs. W. J. Barnes, and W. L. Law, Noel Jervis, a drummer in the Lincolnshire Regiment, pleaded guilty to having been drunk and disorderly in Strond Street, at 1 o'clock that morning.

P.C. Lee said that the prisoner was drunk and crying, and refused to return to barracks, saying he was “fed up” and would jump into the dock.

Fined 5s.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 21 August, 1931. Price 1½d.

LICENSING TRANSFER SESSIONS

Music, Singing and Dancing: The Granada, Castle Street, from Ernest George Bygrave, Secretary to G. M. Phillips, Secretary, Granada (Dover) Ltd.; the Plaza, Cannon Street, from Arthur Gibbons, Manager, to Norman Guy Walker, Manager, Licenses for Music and Singing were granted to Noel Raymond Roy de Fleury, of the "Royal Mail," Strond Street, and to Mrs. Harriett Britton, of the "Cinque Ports Arms," Clarence Place.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 October, 1931. Price 1½d.

LICENSING TRANSFER SESSIONS

The "Red Lion," St. Peter's was transferred from Ernest Alfred French to Arthur Ernest French, his son.

Licences for music, singing and dancing were granted to Frederick Charles Overton, of 43, Eaten Road, Dover, for the Alexandra Hall, Alexandra Place, Dover, and for music and singing to George William Woodard of the "Alma Inn," Folkestone Road, Dover.

Mr. Chitty, who appeared on behalf of Mr. Overton, said that although the hall was really for private dancing lessons, the applicant wished to have social or public dances occasionally.

The Chief Constable said that the hall was 60ft by 18ft, and had two exits and accommodation.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 December, 1931. Price 1½d.

DOVER LICENSING MATTERS

At the Licensing Sessions held at the Dover Police Court on Friday last week, before Sir William Crundall, Messrs. W. J. Barnes, T. Francis, S. J. Livings, J. W. Bussey, E. M. Worsfold, T. A. Terson, C. J. Sellens, C. W. Chitty, W. B. Brett, S. Lewis, W. J. Palmer, W. Bradley, W. L. Law, H. J. Burton, W. S. Lee and Dr. C. Wood.

The music, singing and dancing licence of the Plaza, Cannon Street, Dover, was transferred from N. G. Walker, resident manager, To Ralph Sidney Bromhead, assistant general manager of the British Cinemas, Ltd., of 149-151, Regent Street, London, W.1.

Clifford William Brown was granted a music and singing licence for the Antwerp Restaurant, Cannon Street.

Mr. E. Carder applied, on behalf of Mr. Brown of the "Shakespeare," Bench Street, for an extension of the terms of his licence for music and singing, to include Sunday evening, between 7.30 and 9.45 p.m. They all knew the changes in the conditions of life in the last forty years. Then, had anyone whispered the question  of Sunday evening music they would have been looked upon as a heretic. But a broader view had since been taken, and they even saw Church authorities coming forward in support, and at a conference called by the Bishop of Croyden to discuss this problem it was decided to support applications of this nature. The concluding words of the Bishop were:- "I am not satisfied as a Church leader and Churchman in presenting to this problem year after year a bleak and barren negative."

Mr. Broadley said that the Bishop's words were not in connection with licensed premises, but cinemas.

The Magistrates retired on this question, at the end of the whole of the business, and on their return, Mr. W. Bradley, who took the chair now with only seven Magistrates, announced that the application was refused.

Mr. R. Mowll applied for an hour's extension on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day for Mr. Chapmen, of the "Royal Standard," and said that there were seventy others who desire the same privilege.

The Chairman said that the application would be granted.