LICENSING ISSUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 7

LICENSING ISSUE.

I MR. ASQUITII FIRM. I IRISH CATHOLIC SUPPORT. \ ' T.IIE OPPOSITION'S AMENDMENT. ry TEtEGP.Arn—riiKsa association—copVEianT. 1 (Rcc. April 29, 11.40 p.m.) \ London, April 29. In the llouso of Commons, tlio .Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, moved the second reading of tlio Licensing Bill. He admitted that the Licensing Act passed by the VUnionist Government in 1904 had substantially diminished tho number of licenses, \ though the process of diminution was uneven, sporadic, and very costly. Tho Government's Bill made the process compulsory, uniform, cheaper, and moro effective; j 1 • Mr. Asquith did not oifer to make any substantial concession with regard: to tho Bill. Ho promised sympathetic consideration of any practical suggestions for the suppression of bosus clubs. He declared that tlio Government was not intimidated by' threats as to disaster and ruin to tho country if it laid sacrilegious hands on the brewers' interests. Those who made the threats riiiscalculated the potency of the forces behind tlio Bill. , Hr. G. ■ Cavo (Unionist member for tho Kingston division of Surrey) moved the Opposition's amendment, urging the House not to proceed with the Bill, as it fails to promote temperance, aiid violates tho principlcsof equity. Tho debate was adjourned. CHURCH ATTITUDES. THE ARCHBISHOP AND CARDINAL LOGUE. (Rec. April p, 10.25 p.m.),.. London, April 29. The Archbishop';of Canterbury, addressing iho Church of England Tempcranco Society at Lambeth Palace, said 'lie was convinced that tho principles of the Licensing Bill were right, ,true, and just. Tho difficulties with regard to tlio' time-limit within which compensation is payable for the renewal of licenses, and with regard to tho position of clulis, were capablo of solution. Cardinal Logue and nearly all tho Catholic bishops in Ireland-urge tho Nationalist members to actively support the Government's Licencing Bill. . j THE TRADE AND THE CHURCH. j The Irish Catliolio support of the Licensing Bill is somewhat surprising, in viow of tho declaration made at Manchester by Mr. Join; Redmond (Nationalist loader) that on their niorits the Nationalist party ought to opposo tho Government's chief Bills, particularly tlio Education and Licensing Bills. Olio of the' most noticeablo developments of "tho Trade's" , tactics in their campaign against tho Licensing Bill-(says the "Christian World") is tho threat to discontinue all contributions and'subscriptions to charities and churches. Tho following is the actual text of a letter'written to. the. Archbishop of Cantor-' bury by Mr. ■ • Herbert Walinesley, a Sutton brewer:— ' .

"it is notorious that ' the Trade' as a whole are very generous subscribers to roligious charities, and that ,tho majority of them, are msm : bers of tho Church' of England. Should this -Bill'.become law By, tho aid of your Grace nn(T the Episcopal Bench, I vontuve to predict that the roligious charities,throughout the land will 'become great .sufferers by a largo falling- off .in income represented by. annual subscriptions; donations, and legacies." ' - A correspondent-tried to, influence tho Bishop of "London (% . pointing out that thfe Bishops would need: political support in other matters— tho Education Bill, 1 for instanco—and hinting that " the Trade " would stand by tho Bishopr if tho Bishops Would stand by. the Trade." Dr. Winnington-Ingram, in his reply, refused to discuss the question, but said that he had nover advocatecf a shorter time-limit than 21 years; At tho proper time and place ho would state his reasons both for a time-limit and for the length of it; ' ' , '