State'Pubs' In 'New' Towns In Britain

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1949, Page 5

State 'Pubs' In 'New' Towns In Britain

PRELUDE TO NATIONALISATION ?

LONDON, Tue. (1 p.m.).—A bill to put all inns of “new” or “satellite” towns in Britain under state management, which was described by the Opposition as the first step towards nationalisation of the brewery trade, was passed by the House of Commons tonight. An Opposition amendment to reject the bill was defeated by 305 votes to 187.

Sir Maxwell-Fyfe, K.C., former Conservative Attorney-General, said it was intolerable that in a democratic country there should be interference with the right of the ordinary man to choose the type of draught beer which he wanted to drink;

It would not be possible to go around the corner and get another kind of beer if one did not like state beer.

MODERN MONSTER.

Mr Beverly Baxter (Conservative), regretting the encroachment of the State upon the public house, said: “We get up in the morning and light our fires with state-produced coal. “The housewife cooks her meal with . state-owned gas, and if it has not been cut off, we light our homes with stateowned electricity. “We travel to our offices in stateowned'trains and we get the wrong number with stater-owned telephones. [ '< “We get our teeth extracted by state dentists and our appendix taken out by state doctors. "It is state, state, state.

“The state is becoming the monster of modern existence in this country.

“This final penetration into the public house is the final aim.” EIGHT TOWNS PLANNED.

The teetotal Home Secretary (Mr Chuter Ede) said that at present most breweries allowed only their own beer to be sold in "pubs” they owned. He added that eight satellite towns 1 had so .far been planned for- England and Scotland to take the over-spill populations from London and big industrial areas. The bill also extends drinking hours in London night clubi, hotels and restaurants from midnight te 2 a.m.