LADY ASTOR BRINGS A BILL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2593, 12 March 1923, Page 5

LADY ASTOR BRINGS A BILL

’ TO STOP JUVENILE DRINKINC ' ANIMATED DISCUSSION IN COMMONS. j LUBE OF PROHIBITED THING. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust, and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Receved Sunday 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 9. Lady Aster's Bill, forbidding' tli< sale of alcoholic liquors to person 1 under eighteen prompted an animatei debate in the House of Commons. It was the lirst Bill introduced ii Parliament by a woman. Lady Asto said 90 per cent, of the inebriate; contracted the habit between the agei of 15 and 25. “Boys of IS arc child ren. Why,” she exclaimed, with £ sweep of her arms, “you are all child ren, that is why we women like you Many an English mother is praying for the success of this Bill." Lady Astor said in one year 406! boys and girls, from 16 to 21, wen arrested for drunkenness. The measure would not touch clubs or prevent children bringing the dinnei beer. Mr Crook (Conservative membei for East Ham) in seconding, said h< disliked extremists on both sides, am preferred the joyous optimism oj Omar Khayyam. Mr W. Greaves-Loard (Conservative member for Norwood), in opposing the Bill, said it would lead to drinking of a worse character than that ir a public house. Sir G. C. Hamilton declared thai grandmotherly legislation would delaj the chances of an improved public house and create a desire in childrer to drink. Because it was prohibited a boy would think it great to have a flask in his hip pocket, and he would become popular with the girls. Ladj Astor had said that every boy and girl had a bit of the devil in them — Lady Astor: “Nothing of the kind.” Sir G. Hamilton: “You said you had sufficient devil in you to make you want something that was prohibited. Girls and boys are alike.” Admiral Gaunt declared the Bill was rotten, though its object was magnificent. Had Eve not been originally subjected to prohibition, all would have been happier. He did not want “beastly prohibition,” which would tear the bottom out of the temperance movement. Sir F. G. Banbury said they could hardly see drunkenness in the upper classes. Mr Sexton (Labour member for St, Helen's): “You don’t see it!” Other Labour members: ‘‘They go home in cabs!” Mr Scrymgeour (Independent member for Dundee), who is a noted prohibitionist, was continually protesting because of his failure to catch the Speaker’s eye. Mr W. S. Bridgeman said it would be difficult to carry out the measure, as no one would be able to from appearance whether ° person was over 18. He did not share Lady Astor’s view that beer was bad for persons under 18. In order to prevent the Bill from being talked out, Lady Astor moved the closure, and the Bill was read a second time by 338 votes to 38.