Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevThe Sessions will still be remembered for the sensation caused by a notable decision of the magistrates. Owing to certain official action taken with regard to several licensed houses, And the strenuous efforts which it was known would be made to induce the justices to reduce the number of licences, unusual interest was taken ja the proceedings. The gallery and lower portion of the old police court were densely packed throughout the sitting.
Sir Wilfred Lawson, the great temperance leader and a Member of Parliament, in a speech delivered about a fortnight previously, had expressed the view that the country had no right to allow a system of business to develop itself and men to invest their money in it, with the sanction of the law, and then to turn round upon them and confiscate their property in the name of temperance and morality.
Mr. John Bright, M.P., speaking about the same time, said, There are houses which do not openly break the law, which are injurious, being too numerous, and hurtful to the district in which they are placed; and the authorities might select these and remove a number of them and make compensation.
The magistrates decided to pay no heed to the remarks of either of these statesmen. A petition, signed by every minister of every denomination, for diminishing the number of licensed premises was presented by Canon Quirk (Vicar of Rotherham) and Dr. Falding (principal of the Independent College). Another petition, numerously signed by townspeople. was also presented by Sir (then Mr.) W. B. Clegg, of Sheffield.
No doubt these petitions had their influence on the decision of the Bench. After sitting until late in the evening, the magistrates decided to renew all the licences where intoxicants were sold on the premises, and refused the applications of no less than thirty 'beer-off' licences.
I remember too well the sensation that was caused. Feelings were expressed by significant murmurs when the decision was announced in court.
The justices, wearing theIr top hats, as was the custom then, appeared to recognise the importance of their ruling. One at least (Alderman Neill) could not control his feelings. After the Mayor had announced their findings, he (Ald. Neil) made some very caustic remarks, saying 'the minority would have liked to have adopted the course recommended by Mr. John Bright, but the teetotalers had been too many for them.'
During the sessions, the following lines were penned by Mr. Parker Rhodes, solicitor for the off-licence-holders:
There were ten men, all wondrous wise.
In Brewster Sessions sat
Each man looked wiser than he was
And each man wore his hat.
Beneath those hats what wisdom dwelt
No man can truly say,
But eight of ten abhorred beer
And fain would have their way.
Off with the 'offs', destroy the 'ons'
Was what I heard them say.
two of that Bench alone are true,
Two only help the Pub:
But two are less than eight by six,
And useless - there’s the rub
Amen.
The town was convulsed by the inconsiderate manner in which, by a stroke of the pen and under the sanction of the law, thirty struggling townsmen were caused irretrievable losses, and, for a time at least, their means of living were jeopardised. Controversy turned on three topics - the redundancy of off - licences. their geographical position, and the favouritism displayed.
No one contended that the number of licences should not be reduced, but most people objected to the methods pursued by some of the magistrates. It appeared that at least five of the justices had instructed the police to object to certain houses; a map had been prepared with the doomed houses marked thereon. Quite newly-granted licences were left, whilst many of those taken away next »
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