The Licensed Trade

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 9, 6 October 1943, Page 4

The Licensed Trade

Sir, —Politicians have a habit of forgetting, or evading, some of their promises made on the eve of an election. The Prime Minister cannot forget or evade the promise, he made on the night before the election, to have a Royal Coinmission to inquire into the conduct of the liquor trade in this Dominion, One has only to watch the papers to realize that tlie sooner this question is dealt with the better; the amount of crime that is directly due to the effects of drink is a scandal, and our leaders should not have-to be compelled to face up to.it, but should be brave enough to deal with it as a social and economic matter. The whole of the. people and the better class of licensee would welcome a thorough overhaul of the trade. The people have voted for the retention of the trade in this country, but they do not agree that if can make its own rules as to the conduct of that business, which it seems to be doing. The formation of a Royal Commission should consist of a Supreme Court judge, a representative of the trade, and a member of the affiance; to have a greater number would make it top-heavy, and the introduction of other interest in the personnel would leave it open to criticism and suspicion. I have always found the Prime Minister a man of his word, who carried. out his promises, even when those were given under pressure, and I am quite satisfied to rely on his word, but we do not want this matter pigeon-holed: it is an urgent national question and should be tackled immediately.—l am, etc.,. EASTBOURNE. October 3.