LIQUOR BATTLE IN ENGLAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 457, 16 March 1909, Page 4

LIQUOR BATTLE IN ENGLAND.

MR. ASQUITH'S BILL. A CHRISTCHURCH INTERVIEW. iBT TULEGUiI'U.—BI'tCIAt. COItUKSI'OhUKNT.I Christchurch, March 13. Tho Rev. E. S. Buchanan, who was educated at Canterbury College, and who has been working, in tho Tcmperanco cause 111 London and othor parte of England for tho past 12 years, has returned to this city, whero ho will spend a littlo timo before ho returns to London. Speaking to a "Times reporter, ho said that at Home, in spito of all tho efforts of reformers, drinking amongst women had increased by leaps ajid bounds. It was tho most serious darigor which England had to faco at present. Referring to Mr. Asquith's now Licensing Bill, ho said that its principal proposal was that, at tho end of 15 years, tho 96,000 publichouses in tho United Kingdom should bo reduced to 66,000. Compensation was to bo given for overy license taken away, and was to represent the differenco between tho values of a houso with tho liccnso and without it. In Seven Oaks, for instanco, a houso was abolished, and £1500 was paid in compensation. As a dwellinghouso tho premises wcro built for £350, and tho land cost another- £150. Tho license, which was given by the justices for Notting, raised tho valuo to £2000. So that thoro was practically a free gift of £1500 to tho house. Before Mr. Balfour's Bill of 1904 was passed no compensation was liaid, but Mr. Balfour transferred tho license from the Stat© to tho licensee by enacting-that no liccnso could bo taken away except for misconduct without tho State paying for it in full. Mr. Asquith's Bill provided that at the end of the 15 years tho State should resume possession of the licenses, which was a very dcsirablo point. Thero was a great tcmperanco wavo sweeping round the world. Tho United Kingdom had felt it, and would not toko lying down tho summary rejection of Mr. Asquith's Bill by the Houso of Lords. Next election would bo fought mainly on Tcmperanco principles. It was practically impossible to get a new liccnso in England to-day, as public feeling was unanimous that thero wore too many licouses already in existenco. " Tho Archbishop of Canterbury supported Mr. Asquith's Bill, and made the »>eech of lis life m tho House of Lords wlicn the Bill was discussed. Although tho Tcmperanco party was well organised, it had a very powerful organisation to light. England was very far behind New Zealand in regard to the Tcmperanco movement. Tiiero was n. strong movement in tho country in favour of Sunday-closing in Glasgow. For a timo barmaids wcro abolished, but they had now been reinstated, although tho reformers hoped that tho reinstatement would not bo permanent. Tho greatest power in tho cause was the Temporanco Alliance, whoso headquarters woro in London and Manchester. Its organ was the " AUianco News," which circulated throughout tho wliolo of tho Kingdom onco a week. Tho Tcmperanco Legislation League supplied literature and speakers free of cost to all parts of tho country, and did yeoman servicc while Sir. Asquith's Bill was being canvassed. Sir Thomas Whitaker, M.r., was tho champion of tho forward movement, and, sinco tho death of Sir Wilfred Lawson, ltf> had been tho leader of tho canso in tho llouso of Commons. The Rev.L. M. Isitt did great things for tho cause during his last tour through England, and in England was regarded as tho greatest platform advocate of tho present day.