QSR1918/1/2/3

Licensed VIctuallers Defence League of England & Wales

21st November 1917

From: 1917 To: 1918

Licensed Victuallers’ Defence League of England and Wales Chief Officer – Bridge House, 181, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C. The Compensation Charges – Suggested Suspension. To their Worships the Licensing Justices Who act as the Compensation Authority. A letter; Most repectfully submit that you will be justified in suspending altogether the operation of Section 21 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act 1910 until after the War, on the following grounds 1) That the restrictions imposed on the Trade first by the Justices; then by the Competent Naval & Military Authorites; & afterwards by the Cenral Control Board(Liquor Traffic), have deprived the Licensed VIctualler of the means of obtaining that margin of profit essential for him to maintain financial solvency. 2) That he is only permitted to sell & supply alcoholic liquor for 5.1/2hours a day, a drastic curtailment of hours which has caused such a considerable reduction in his receipts as to interfere seriously withn his livelihood. 3) That restrictions on the output of beer & on the release of wines & spirits from bond have taken from him to a large extent a source of income from commodities for trading in which a heavy license has to be paid. 4) That the legislature has already admitted that tenants of licensed premises are entitled to a reduction of part of the license duty in recognition of the losses imposed on them by the curtailment of hours 5) That Assessment Committees have similary reduced assessments proportionately to the loss of trade arising from the restriction of hours & limitation of output. 6) Because it will be a just concession to licensed traders, whose losses through the War will, we hope, receive you sympathetic consideration. Trusting that this appeal will meet with your favourable reception. We are, on behalf of the Council of the League. Yours respectfully, W. J. Coates, (West Hartlepool), President. J. McLeavy, (Birkenhead), Vice-President. Edward Holloway (Brighton), Hon. Treasurer. H. Geo. Robinson, Gen. Sec. and Parliamentary Agent

item

Coates, W. J.,
McLeavy, J.,
Holloway, Edward,
Robinson, H. Geo.

City of London Queen Victoria Street, Birkenhead, Brighton, general parliament, licensing