THE LICENSING BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13782, 22 June 1908, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL.

MR. ASQUITH FIRM. WILL STAND OR FALL BY IT. i By Telegraph— Association.—Copyright (Received June 21, 4.15 p.m.) f London, June 20..Speaking at a mass meeting at Birmingham • in connection with * the National Liberal Federation Conference, the Prime Minister (Mr. As- i quith) said he staked his own political fortunes, and as far as he could the fortunes of the Government and party, on the Licensing Bill. Mr. Asquith went on to say that he had been told he was foolhardy, but his own belief was that he had never done a wiser thing. The Bishop of London recently, made an eloquent and 'impassioned speech in favour of the Bill, but differences of opinion exist in the Church on the subject. The DrinkBill, said the Bishop, was a national disgrace, and they could not tolerate' its continuance. ■ When colonists camo here they were ' ashamed of the Old Country. The effect of this huge Drink Bill was awful. Now that lie was a Bishop he had to bo taking midnight marches and missions lest he forgot what he had known of the poor neighbourhoods. "We cannot sit still under it." He contended that a reduction of licenses would diminish drunkenness—a statement with which some of his listeners did not agree. The Bishop said he had many brewers among his personal friends, and one frankly admitted, "When you shut up a public-house, the custom evaporates." If this were so this was indeed a great temperance measure. He had no animus against the trade, but he did tremble at its strength. Governments had been beaten again and again, and though he had voted consistently against the Liberals, yet he honoured and respected the present Government for taking their life in their hands in proposing this Bill. He honoured- the Nonconformists, but he did not want them to be foremost in this fray.