WORKING MEN’S CLUBS AND THE LICENSING LAWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1043, 8 September 1883, Page 2

WORKING MEN’S CLUBS AND THE LICENSING LAWS.

i A recent Home paper has the followl ing:—A case of some importance with re- ■ ference to the law as to working men’s » clubs has been before the Stalybridge Magistrates. The prosecution was one I instituted by the police under the 3rd ' section of the Licensing Act, 1872, and ■ the defendant, Henry Thompson, was charged with unlawfully selling whisky f by retail without a license. The evidence 3 showed that some time in April premises 3 which were formerly a shop were opened 3 as “The Stalybridge Working Men’s Social s Club.” A large number of persons bei came members, the entrance fee being t only 2d, which was returned to the members in the form of refreshments. The f Club was at first opened on'y on Sun- - days, the doors being thrown open at G ’ a m., closed from half-past twelve to two, i then re-opened, and finally close t at six, ■ the object, it was contended, being to - supply men with drink during the hours in which publichouses are closed. Nearly every Sunday numbers of men were ) locked up for being drunk in. the streets 1 after leaving the “ club,” and ultimately - these proceedings were commenced. A t policeman and an ! xcise officer went to - the place on the morning of Sunday, the f 20th of May, and following two men, saw - them served with whisky. Neither of the men were members, when they entered the building, but they gave their names to I defendant, who was there, and he wrote e them out cards of membership. These - tickets, for which they paid 2d each, eu- • titled them to he members for one month, a One witness said he was a member of the r Committee of eight who decided to form - the club. He stated that the officers J were regularly appointed and everything was done in fo’-m. Members were not elected by the Committee, the power of ) appointment being delegated to the de- ■ fendant, who was the steward. Amusei merits were provided for the members, i . I the form of card-, and dominoes, puff and dart, and so on, and two papers were i taken. There were 1,000 members, but none att-nded a meeting which was announced for the division of profits, and only two or three wont to the club during tl\e week, the real business being done on Sundays. Mr Brown, solicitor, Stockport, for the defence, contended that the club was perfectly legal, the drink served was the property of the members as a copartnership, and the two men proved to have been drinking the whisky were members elected in the manner which the rules prescribed. The Magistrates held that it was only a colorable club, with the object nf evading the law, and fined the defendants 40s and 25s casts. Mr Brown asked the Bench to state a case. The Bench declined, and Mr Brown said he should have to apply for a rule to compel them to do so.