THE NEW LICENSING BILL. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1894, Page 4

THE NEW LICENSING BILL. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib— Until I read your article of last evening, I wa9 unaware of tho absuid provision in tho now Licensing Act which alters the quantity of malt liquor to bo sold under a wholesale license from two to five gallons. Where ou earth can bo the reason for such an alteration? I will Bbow you how the alteration affects me, and as it affects me it must affect many hundreds of other people. I am ono of the so-called middle classes. My wife and I take a glass of beer « hen we choose to toko a glass of beer, tho ridiculous and idiotio Prohibition crazo to tho contrary notwithstanding. But Ido not go to the publicbouse. I order a dozen of ale or stout, as tho case may 10, for use in my own home, for which I pay 8s Od. The dozen is sufficient for our demands, as my wife and I only drink a glass of boor when wo feel inclined. Why should I be compelled to order five gallons— two dozen and a-half— which costs .£1 2a instead of 8s Gd. I don't mind your blatant and meddlesome Prohibitionist interfering with the freedom of the working man. That is the affair of tho working man, and I must say he seems to like it., But this ia a free country— to a very Einall extent, I admit, to such a stato have wo come at last— and as a free man I claim the right still to be allowed to fit my desires to my means. Why, then, should I be compelled to spend £1 2s fov five gallons of malt liquor when I only require two gallons costing 8s 6d ? This is to mo a puro matter of freedom, nnd of business. I don't want any Prohibitionist rubbish introduced into the question. I am, &c, Bbiton. 25th August.