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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 12
February, 1937.
ANNUAL LICENSING SESSIONS
The general Annual Licensing Sessions for the Borough and Liberties of
Dover were held at the Town Hall on Monday, before the Mayor (Alderman G. M.
Norman), Dr. C. Wood, Messrs. W. B. Brett, H. E. Russell, W. G. Palmer, G.
D. Clark, W. J. Barnes, R. J. Barwick, W. L. Law, C. W. Chitty, and C. E.
Beaufoy, Mrs. Binge and Miss Elnor.
Chief Constable's Report
LICENSED HOUSES
There are now 154 licensed premises in the Borough. The population of the
Borough according to the last census figure, is 41,281, and this represents
one licensed house to every 268 inhabitants.
The following tables shows the number of licensed premises compared with
the previous year:-
| |
1936 |
1937 |
Fully licensed houses |
127 |
126 |
Beer houses |
5 |
5 |
Wine, Sweets, etc. licences |
3 |
3 |
"Off" licences |
20 |
20 |
|
155 |
154 |
At the Annual General Licensing Meeting on the 3rd February, 1936,
the "Greyhound" Inn, Union
Row, was referred to the Compensation Authority on the grounds of
redundancy. The house was closed on the 31st December, 1936.
During the year 1936, 31 licences, involving 30 houses were
transferred, the licence of the Royal Hippodrome being transferred twice
during the year. One new Excise Licence was issued during the year in
respect of 74, High Street, Dover, authorising the sale off the premises
of wine and spirit under section III, Licensing (Consolidation) Act,
1910. This Excise Licence does not require a licence from the Justices.
566 visits were paid by the Police to licensed houses during the
year. No licensee has been proceeded against for any offence against the
Intoxicating Liquor Laws, but 13 licenses were cautioned for
irregularities under the Licensing Laws, e.g., allowing persons to
remain on the premises behind locked doors during non-permitted hours,
allowing children under 14 years of age to be in saloon bars during
permitted hours; betting and gambling on licensed premises, and allowing
music to be played on a Sunday.
I am pleased to observe that the owners are taking steps to improve
their houses, both from the point of view of better supervision by the
licensee and better accommodation for the public using the houses. Six
plans for structural alterations were approved by the Justices during
the year, as compared with two the previous year.
CLUBS
There are now 19 registered clubs in the Borough with a total
membership of 7631.
Two Clubs, The Cosworth Manor Bridge and Tennis Club, Folkestone
Road, Dover, and Jarvies Residential Club, Liverpool Street, Dover, were
struck off the Register following proceedings for not being conducted in
good faith. The proprietors of the clubs were convicted for the illegal
sales of intoxicating liquor, and 18 other persons employed at or
resorting to the clubs were also proceeded against.
The Kearsney Bowling Club, The Pavilion, London Road, Kearsney, was
registered on the 1st May, 1936.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF EXEMPTION.
809 Special Orders of Exemption were granted by the Justices during
the year, as compared with 880 during 1935, and of the number granted
during the year, 254 were in connection with Eastertide and 381 with
Christmastide and the New Year festivities. 51 applications were granted
in respect of Registered Clubs. 25 Occasion Licences were granted by the
Justices during the year.
PUBLIC MUSIC, SINGING AND DANCING LICENCES.
Licences for Public Music, Singing and Dancing are in operation as
follows:-
Licensed premises --- 36
Public Halls ------------ 32
DRUNKENNESS
There have been 27 cases of drunkenness during the year, committed by
26 males and 1 female, one male being a methylated spirits drinker, 11
were residents (including one female) 13 non-residents and 3 soldiers,
two of whom were hauled over to the Military Authorities to be dealt
with.
Proceedings for drunkenness during 1936 have been as follows:-
Patrons proceeded
Against |
Convicted |
Dismissed |
M. F. |
M. F. |
M. F. |
26 1 |
18 1 |
8 0 |
During the past five years proceedings for drunkenness have been as
follows:-
| |
Total |
Males |
Females |
1932 |
11 |
10 |
1 |
1933 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
1934 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
1936 |
12 |
12 |
0 |
1936 |
27 |
26 |
1 |
In addition, two men were charged with being in charge of motor
vehicles and being under the influence of drink to such an extent as to
be incapable of having proper control of the vehicles.
One man was convicted and fined £30 and his motor driving licence was
suspended for 12 months, whilst the case against the other man was
dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act, on payment of costs.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS
I respectfully as the Licensing Justices to consider the question of
the structural suitability of many of the Licensed Houses in the
Borough. The provision of adequate and suitable lavatory accommodation
is neglected in a large number of houses. In some cases only one w.c. is
provided for the landlord, his family and both sexes of customers. In
many cases urinals and w.c.'s are in unlit back-yards in such positions
as to make supervision by the licensee impossible.
The living accommodation at certain houses could be materially
improved, and it is not infrequent that the living rooms are used by
customers.
I also suggest, that wherever possible, the licensee should have a
private entrance. I respectfully suggest that consideration of the
renewal of the under mentioned licences be adjourned in order to submit
plans for the improvement of their houses:- "Bowling
Green Tavern," 41 Hartley Street; "Castle"
Inn, Dolphin Lane; "Crown," 1
Military Road; "Fountain," 238,
London Road; "Grapes," Maison Dieu
Road; "Green Dragon," 16, Strond
Street; "Green Man," Erith Street; "Robin
Hood," Townwall Street; "Star,"
20-22 Church Street; "Sussex Arms," 32
Townwall Street.
LICENSING RETURNS FOR THE CITIES AND BOROUGHS OF KENT.
| |
Pop. |
L.H. |
Persons to each |
Proceedings |
Per 1000 pop. |
Maidstone |
44877 |
141 |
318 |
16 |
0.35 |
Margate |
40307 |
182 |
221 |
17 |
0.42 |
Rochester |
32377 |
96 |
337 |
14 |
0.43 |
Folkestone |
46170 |
126 |
366 |
21 |
0.45 |
Ramsgate |
34422 |
134 |
257 |
15 |
0.47 |
T. Wells |
35839 |
114 |
314 |
20 |
0.55 |
Dover |
41281 |
154 |
268 |
27 |
0.65 |
Canterbury |
25109 |
126 |
199 |
17 |
0.67 |
Gravesend |
37670 |
118 |
319 |
55 |
1.40 |
|
388052 |
1191 |
283 |
200 |
0.59 |
The Mayor congratulated the licensees on the way in which they had
conducted their premises during the last twelve months. There had not
been one single offence against the licensing law, which was very
creditable, and when they had looked at the return they could not say
that the police had been slack, because they had paid 566 visits to
licensed houses, which proved that the licensees had conducted their
houses in a most satisfactory manner. There were 27 cases of
drunkenness, but out of those only eleven were residents and that was
not to say that they got drunk on the licensees premises. They knew that
some of them were out for a day and returned in that state. If the
licensees conducted their houses in the forthcoming year as they had
done in the past he thought it would be a credit to the town. The Mayor
added that the ten licenses referred to in the Chief Constable's report
would be renewed, but they would want plans by the transfer session in
April. They were sure the brewers wanted to do all they could do to
bring their houses up-to-date.
The Magistrates' Clerk said that in the case of those mentioned by
the Chief Constable, plans should be submitted for consideration at the
transfer sessions on April 9th, and directly they were approved the
justices expected the brewers to take the necessary steps to carry out
the work. The work had got to be done this year otherwise they ran the
risk of having their licences opposed at the next Brewster sessions.
No Extension of Hours.
Mr. Rutley Mowll applied on behalf of the licensed victuallers for an
extra half-hour all the year round. They had already had an extra
half-hour during the summer time for some yeas and as they heard from
the Chief Constable's report there had been no abuse of the privilege.
There was such a rush when they had to close at 10 o'clock and he asked
whether, if only as an experiment, they would grant the extension all
the year round. This was a very exceptional year and he though they
might grant it as an experiment.
The Rev. S. G. Tweed, Minister of Salem Church, said he opposed the
application on behalf of the Dover Free Church Council and the Dover
temperance Union. He had nothing at all to say against the conduct of
the public houses during the past year and had there been no application
for an alteration to the present state of affairs he would have said
nothing at all. But, as the application had been made, he was applying
that the closing time should be 10 o'clock all the year round. They
strongly objected to the closing hour being altered to 10.30 all the
year round especially on the plea that had been put forward that this
was a special year. He would remind them that the year had been opened
with a call to return to religion. There had been a feeling that the
need of the country was a strengthening of the moral position of the
country and a return to higher life, and he suggested that the extending
of hours of licensed premises was not going to help in that direction.
They accepted the present summer time as a compromise, but would prefer
the closing time to be 10 o'clock all the year round.
The Magistrate's Clerk stated that he had received a memorial signed
by 146 residents of Broadstairs and St. Peters apposing the application
as unnecessary and not in the best interests of the town.
The Rev. W. Lomax McKensie supported the memorial.
Mr. W. G. Jenner, Chairman of the Dover Licensed Victuallers'
Association, stated that the application was made more or less on behalf
of the shift workers who started work at 2 p.m. and did not finish until
10 p.m.
The Magistrates refused the application for an extra half-hour all
the year round, but granted it for summer time, as in the past.
Charles Leslie Tomlin, 12, Effingham Crescent, Dover, club steward,
applied for a licence authorising him to keep a room, lately occupied by
the Metropole Billiards Club, Cannon Street, Dover, for public billiards
playing.
This was granted.
Plans for alteration to the "Prince
Alfred" Inn, East cliff and the "Rose" Inn, Broadstairs,
(re-building) wee approved.
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