JUVENILE DRINKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18346, 12 March 1923, Page 7

JUVENILE DRINKING.

AN AGE- LIMIT PROPOSED. LADY ASTOR'S FIRST BILL. A. and N.Z. LONDON. March 9. A Bill introduced by Lady Astor (Conservative) to forbid the sale of alcoholic liquors to persona under 18 years of age prompted an animated debate in the House of Commons. It was the first Bill introduced in Parliament by a woman. Lady Astor said that 90 per cent, of inebriates contracted the habit between the ages of 15 and 25. " Boys of 18 are children. Why," she exclaimed with a sweep of one arm, " you are all children. 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 4063 boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 21 years of age were arrested for drunkenness. The measure will not touch clubs, nor prevent children from bringing home dinner beer. Mr. C. W. Crook (Conservative), seconding the Bill, said he disliked extremists on both sides. He preferred the joyous optimism of Omar Khayyam. Mr. W. Greaves-Lord (Conservative), opposing the Bill, said it would lead to drinking of a worse character than in public houses. Major Sir R. C. Hamilton (Liberal) declared that grandmotherly legislation would delay the chances of an improved j public house, and create a desire in chil- j dren to drink because it was prohibited. | A boy would think it great to have a flask in his hip-pocket. He would become popular with the girls. Lady Astor had said every boy and girl had a bit of the devil in them. Lady A*tor: Nothing of the kind. Sir R. C. Hamilton: You said you had sufficient devil in you to make you want something that was prohibited. Girls and boys are alike. Admiral Sir G. Gaunt (Conservative) 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 a " beastly prohibition" which would tear the bottom out of the temperance movement. Sir F. Banbury (Conservative) said that drunkenness could hardly be seen in the upper classes. Mr. W. Sexton (Labour): You don't see it. Other Labour members: They go home in cabs. Mr. E. Sorymgeour (Independent), who is a noted prohibitionist, was continually protesting because of his failure to catch the Speaker's eye. Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, Home Secretary, said it would be difficult to carry out the measure. No one would be able to decide from appearance whether a person was over 18. He did not >hare Lady Astor's view that beer was bad for persons under 18 years of age. 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.