PLAYFUL BANTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 9

PLAYFUL BANTER.

Commons Facetious Debate on Prohibition.

"BEERAGE" NOT PEERAGE.

(Received '12 noon.)

LONDON, February 13,

There was much playful banter in the House of Commons over the private bill of Mr. E. Scrymgeour (Ind., Dundee) prohibiting the manufacture, importation or sale of alcoholic liquors. For example Sjr W. A. Wayland (Con., Canterbury) protested that Mr. Scrymgeour had no more right to deprive him of a ; glass. of., ale than, he had to deprive Mr. Scrymgeour of a bun and a, glass of milk.

Lady Astor (Con., Sutton) said ehe plumped for local option, which did not change, against the vested interests, notably of the Lords. It was more appropriate, she said, to speak of the £C beerage" instead of the peerage. The Speaker: "You must not talk disrespectfully of the 'other place.'" Lady Astor assailed the liquor advertisements, singling out an athlete quaffing beer after an innings. "Why were we beaten at cricket?" she asked. "The simple answer is because the Australians did not drink," was her reply.

After discussing the relative merits of whisky and milk and the capacity of Sassenachs to drink' whisky, the House rejected the bill by 137 votes to 18.