PUBLIC HOUSE IMPROVEMENT 137 
licensing law and, if unchanged, will ultimately absorb 
it.” It may be wondered why the licence-holders of 
the country submit to this unjust differentiation, for 
they are compelled to make substantial payments for 
their licences, to contribute to the compensation fund, 
and are subject to strict supervision by the police. 
Apparently the brewers do not object, as they find the 
clubs to be very good customers, and in some cases, 
indeed, they themselves promote and finance clubs. 
It seems most desirable that all clubs should be brought 
under the magistrates’ control, and that no new club 
should be registered unless it holds a justices’ licence 
authorising such registration. The grant of such a 
licence should be subject to an annual renewal at the 
discretion of the licensing justices. Also itis reasonable 
to prevent the employment of licensed premises which 
have been extinguished under the compensation clauses 
of the Licensing Acts for the purpose of a registered 
club. If they are ever used for this purpose, a con- 
siderable period (such as three or five years) ought to 
intervene after the expiration of the licence.