BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 380, 2 May 1908, Page 3

BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Supported by Cardinal Logue And Archbishop of Canterbury London, April 29. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, moved the second reading of the Licensing Bill. He admitted that the Licensing Act passed by the Unionist Government in 1904 had substantially diminished the number of licenses, though the process of diminution was uneven, sporadic, and very costly. The Government’s Bill made the process comoulsory, uniform, cheaper, and more effective. Mr Asquith did not offer to make any substantial concession with regard to the Bill. He promised sympathetic consideration of any practical suggestions for the suppression of bogus clubs. He declared that the Government was not intimidated by threats as to disaster and ruin to the country if it laid sacrilegious hands on the brewers’ interests. Those j who made the threats miscalculated the potency of the forces behind the Bill. Mr G. Cave (Unionist member for the Kingston division of Surrey) moved the Opposition’s amendment, urging the House not to proceed with the Bill, as it fails to promote temperance, and violates the principles of equity. The debate was adjourned. The Archbishop of Canterbury, addressing the Church of Kuglaud Temperance Society at Lambeth Palace, said he was convinced that the principles of the Licensing Bill were right, true, and just. The difficulties with regard to the timelimit within which compensation is payable for the renewal of licenses, and with regard to the position of clubs, were capable of solution. Cardinal Logue and nearly all the Catholic bishops in Ireland urge the Nationalist members to actively support the Government’s Licensing Bill. London, April 30. The debate on the second reading of the Licensing Bill was continued in the House of Commons. Mr. W. H. Long (who was Secretary for Ireland in the last Unionist Government), in a speech on the meaasure, argued that the time-limit within which compensation is payable (14 years) was absolutely incompatible with the concurrent levy for insurance. He reminded the House that the Socialists were already talking about the expropriation of other kinds of property after a timelimit of 14 years had elapsed. Several Liberals spoke against the Bill. The debate was again adjourned.