THE "TRADE " AT HOME.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 36

THE "TRADE " AT HOME.

The Licensed Victuallers have, . to quote a historic phrase of Parnell, at a particular stage of the Home Rule movement, taken off their coats (writes Mr H. W. Lucy in the Sydney Morning Herald), in preparation for the ns?ht round the Licensing Bill, which will be one of the features of next session Their plan of campaign displays the mark of a master hand, _ Against the considerable majority of the still "new House of Commons pledged to the cause of .temperance it would have been idle for them to plead the sanctity of "the trade," and denounce the spoliation of a reckless Chancellor of the Exchequer. What they have done is to appeal to the pocket interest of a large variously-constituted body of -investors whose property, they declare, is in danger. It is estimated that not less than £100,000,000 have been invested by the * public upon the securities of debentures and mortgages of breweries and publichouses. It is stated that the bulk is held by insurance companies, trustees of various classes, and by small holders, who, attracted by the long-maintained stability of the investment, 1 have been content to receive small rates of interest. The leading idea of the wealthy brewers who are at the back of the new scheme is to draw together this complex multitude of 'more or less personal influence, but all endowed with the > suffrage, and, inducing them to sink such minor -matters as party politics or prejudices, join in determined effort to defeat the "Licencing Bill. To that end, a general committee has been formed, including many peers and some M.P.'s. It is stated that, either as trustees or in their personal capacity, the committee represent an aggregate amount of over £9,000.000 advanced on brewery debentures. Their aotion will be strengthened by local committees formed in every nountyi the members.-feeing pledged to bring every influence to bear upon the hapless sitting member. What the brewer* apprenend is, either that a time limit will be renewed only upon payment of a monopoly value, or that an increase in taxation may be imposed on breweries and licensed houses too grievous to be borne.