"IT’S COMING YET, AS COME IT WILL, FOR A’ THAT."

Evening Star, Issue 3923, 20 September 1875, Page 3

"IT’S COMING YET, AS COME IT WILL, FOR A’ THAT."

To the Editor.

SlB, —If there is any truth in the following statement of the London correspondent of the ‘Leeds Mercury’ of July 10, a reform of the licensing system of England, likely to inaugurate rather hard and troublous times for some of the liquor traders, is looming in the not fardistant future. The correspondent referred to says : —“ A movement has been started amongst some of the Liberal members of Parliament •with a view to secure the introduction of a Bill which shall give the ratepayers power to grant licenses to public-houses instead of the magistrates. It appears that several members of Parliament have had this idea before them for some time past. At the beginning of the session Mr Joseph Cowcn prepared a Bill for the purpose of handing over the licensing authority in boroughs and counties to elective hoards. Several circumstances, bowver, have prevented the introduction of the Bill this session. Mr Bright has been preparing a measure of the same character, and Sir Harcourt Johnstone, Mr Samuel Morley, and Professor Smyth have also had similar projects in view. In order to promote unity of action amongst all the advocates of 1 local option,’ and in the hope that the different Bills might be combined in one, a private meeting of Parliamentary representatives has b en summoned for imxt week, at which tin- whole question will bo considered. An effort will he mode to induce Mr Bright to take charge of the new Bill; but whether this will he successful or not is doubtful. In some shape, however, and by some member, the matter is sure : o be raised in a definite fonn next session. Many members who have not hitherto voted for Sir Wilfrid Lawson’s Permissive Bill have promised to support such a scheme as is now projected.”— I am, &c., Observer. Dnnedin, September 20.