BEER AND BOYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16987, 10 March 1923, Page 8

BEER AND BOYS.

LADY ASTOR PROPOSES AGE LIMIT. LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association. (Received -March 10, 3.35 p.m.) UU.>DVJ.\, -Mulch 9. Lady Astor's i>iil luruKidmg the sale ot alcoholic liquors to per soils under eighteen prompted an animated debate in Hie House of Lemmons, it was the hist Bill introduced in Parliament by a woman. Lady Astor said that ninety per cent of inebriates contracted the habit between the ages of fifteen and twentylive. “ Boys of eighteen are children. Why!'’ she exclaimed, with a sweep of her 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 that in one year 4063 boys and girls from sixteen to twenty-one were arrested for drunkenness. The measure would not touch clubs, nor prevent children bringing the dinner beer. Mr G. W. Crook (Conservative. East Ham) in seconding the motion said that he disliked extremists on both sides, and preferred the joyous optimism of Omar Khayyam. Mr W. Greaves-Lord (Conservative. Norwood), in opposing the Bill, said that it would lead to drinking of a worse character than in the publichouse. Sir G. C. Hamilton (Conservative. Cheshire) declared that grandmotherly legislation would delay the chances ot an improved public-house, and would create a desire in children to drink because it was prohibited A bov would think it great to have a flask in his hip pocket. He would become popular with girls. Lady Astor had said thatevery boy and girl had a bit of the devil in them. Lady Astor: “ Nothing of the kind.*’ Sir G. 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 Guy Gaunt (Conservative. Yorks) declared that the Bill was rotten, though its object was a magnificent one. Had Eve not been originally subjected to prohibition all would have been happier. He did not want "Beastly Prohibition,” which would tear the bottom out of the temperance movement. Sir F. Banbury (Conservative, City of London) said that they could hardly 6e© drunkenness in the upper classes. Mr James Sexton (Labour, St Helens): You don't see it. Other Labour Members: They go home in cabs. Mr E. Scrymgeour (Independent, Dundee), who is a noted prohibitionist, was continually protesting because of his failure to catch the Speaker’s eye. Mr "W. C. Bridgeman (Horae Affairs) said that it would be difficult to carry out the measure. No oue would be able to decide from appearance whether a person was over eighteen. He did not share Lady As+or’s view that beer was bad for hove under eighteen. In order to prevent the Bill being talked out. Lady Astor moved the closure, and the Bill was read a second time by 338 votes to 38.