DRINKING IN ST. STEPHEN'S.

Otago Witness, Issue 1190, 19 September 1874, Page 16

DRINKING IN ST. STEPHEN'S.

It deserves to be known that while a certain Bection of the House of Commons thinks lightly of the convenience of humbler folk, and cannot see why they want the public-houses kept open after certain limited hours, these very members drink copiously of stimulating liquors at the drinking bar in the members' lobby up to the hour of adjournment, however late that may be. One of the "privileges " of the House of Commons is that "beer, wine, and spirits" maybe "drunk on the premises" without any license whatever. If an exciseman entered St. Stephen's and, after obtaining evidence, proceeded against the refreshment contractor for selling alcoholic liquors without a license, he would soon be laid by the heels as having committed a violation of the privileges of the House. Yet ' ' What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," and if the members of a selfdenying ordinance would for only one single session shut up the bar, give out iced water alone in the smoking-room, stop the whisky of the Irish and Scotch members, inhibit the brandy and seltzer of the English, and serve up suppers with tea and coffee, they would be in a position to calculate the inconvenient au§e4 ty their eaijy dotting

hours to a large portion of the public. It would be a high breach of privilege , to hint that any member of so august an assembly ever drank more ,than. was goo,d for him, but the fact is that the representatives of the people not only drink, but drink a good deal. The "bar." in the members' lobby has been expressly enlarged this session for the convenience o so many staunch friends of the liquor trade as the Conservative majority was sure to contribute, and the assistants have driv jii a r taring business during the ' ' nights when the intoxicating Liquors Bill has been before the House. It is sn odd coincidence that any discussion or division on the closing hours sends a crowd to the " bar," and that the fanatics for early closing and restricting the comforts of the people, furnish a full and fair proportion of these "thirsty souls." The divisionlobbies are small, close, and confined, and when the Government have combined their forces with the advocates of earlyclosing, the heat and anger engendered by the debate and division combined excite a mighty and uncontrollable thirst. It is only a wonder that the noise of the opening of so many soda-water bottles and the popping of so many corks does not penetrate into the House. — From Parliamentary Notes and Incidents in the Scotsman.