LIQUOR TRADE IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 7

LIQUOR TRADE IN BRITAIN

WARNING GIVEN BY MR MORRISON COMMONS SPEECH CAUSES SURMISE (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 15. “In the last half-minute of his speech in the House of Commons last night on the Licensing Bill, which provides for State management of public houses in areas where new towns are built, the Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison) hinted at the possible nationalisation of the liquor trade,” says the Parliamentary correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” “Mr Morrison was commenting on a reported warning to the Government, that the retail liquor trade, ‘hitherto unpolitical,’ would not hesitate to act on political lines if necessary. “If, said Mr Morrison, this trade was going to make itself the instrument of a political party, and was going to turn every public house into a Tory committee-room, it would be illjudged, and would be inviting a policy it did not want.

“There was no time for further explanation of Mr Morrison’s statement before the House voted on a Conservative motion to reject the bill. It was defeated by 307 votes to 203, and the bill was read a Second time.

“The Opposition's case against the bill was directed largely to the fear that it was the thin edge of the wedge towards nationalisation by stages. There was also some Labour criticism of the bill, and three Labour members voted against the Government.”