PROHIBITION IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18856, 8 May 1923, Page 7

PROHIBITION IN BRITAIN

PRIVATE BILL DEFEATED. FEW LABOUR SUPPORTERS. LONDON, April 20. The House of Commons rejected, ,Dy 256 votes Co 24, the Prohibition Bill introduced on February 20 by Mr Sqrymgeour, Independent member for Dundee. The Bill provided that the importation, manufacture, and sale of alcoholic liquors as beverages should be illegal in Tie United Kingdom, and that alcohol should be supplied only in . bottles labelled “poison,” and on a medical certificate. Mr Scrymgeour spoke for an hour and a-half without once referring ..to the Bill, but his earnestness and good faith elicited general cheers at t!he end of the speech, ilo declared that prohibition had been an incalculable blessing in the United States, and that but for prohibition he would never have been in Parliament. “God Himself,” he declared, “took possession of rue and brought me here in the most marvellous fashion, against all the forces of the, press and political organisation. lam here to serve the interests of mankind,: and to sustain the prestige of the country and the kingdom of Christ.”

Dr Slater, in seconding the Bill, admitted that it was impracticable. Sir Arthur Holbrook moved its rejection. The reason why few Labour members supported it is that the Labour Party is chiefly in favour of State ownership of the liquor trade.