BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 1 December 1908, Page 3

BRITISH LICENSING BILL.

London, Nov. 30

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Halsbury supported the suggestion made by Viscount St Aldwyn yesterday in reference to the Licensing Bill. Lord Rosebery asked both parties to co-operate in carrying the suggestion into effect. (Viscount St Aldwyn, better known as Sir Michael HicksBeach, suggested that the Government or the Bishop of Loudon introduce a new Bill, embodying 30 clauses, for promoting temperance. He was confident the Lords would pass it. The suggestion was cheered.

Dr Winuiugton-Ingrara, Provincial Dean of Canterbury and Bishop of London, states that the Archbishop of Canterbury is willing, if the Government will permit, to introduce a new Licensing Bill, embodying the temperance proposals of the last Bill.

Lord Loreburn, Lord Chancellor while admitting that the Govern ment’s Bill was dead, declared it was a victory of the trade over the community ; of wrong over right. “ Nevertheless,” he continued, ‘‘the time will come when the State will resume the power to resume licenses unfettered by any vested interest.

The Licensing Bill was rejected in the House of Lords by 272 to 96. The majority were exclusively Unionist and the minority included the two archbishops, eleven bishops, Lords Balfour of Burley, Carlisle, de la Warr, Esher, Falmouth, Lyttou, Colham, Milner, Ritchie and nine other Unionists.

Referring to the Licensing Bil* in the course of a speech at Leeds last mouth, Mr Asquith ‘‘nailed his colours to the mast.”, He said : —‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, I was told by not a tew of those who consider themselves well - equipped political prophets, on the morning after the introduction of the Licensing Bill, that I had ruined the fortunes of the Liberal Party for a generation to come. (Cries of ‘ No, no.’) I confess I never took the pessimistic view. I always felt convinced that there would be a storm. (Laughter). I do not think that even our imagination in its most creative moments ever pictured a scene such as the Peckham election, but still it did not require very much either of fancy 4 'or political insight to know that there would be a storm. When you go tilting with all the forces of a Government and a Parliamentary majority against the greatest and in some ways'■the richest, and certainly the best 'politically organised, of all the great 1 interests in this country, you are’apt to be reminded by experience that resolutions are not made .With rosewater. That we foresarV and that we deliberately resolveft to face. (Prolonged cheers). Why ? Because something infinitely higher, and greater, and more permanent than the fortunes of any particular Government or any particular party were at stake. Because this is the chance —the best charge and the only chance—that has effectively offered in our time, tof rescuing the people of this country from the heaviest and mostvde* moralising yoke that has been&dd upon their shoulders. (Prolonged cheers). We put our hands to fSte plough, and whatever may be our*! fortunes we are not going <to turn, back. (Cheers).” .. . . .. ■