An Election Victory.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 20, 13 May 1908, Page 4

An Election Victory.

“BEER, GLORIOUS BEER.” The election campaign at Peckham in March was perhaps the most exciting of recent years in England, and its result is a heavy blow for the Liberal Government. Two years ago the Liberal majority was 2300; this week the Unionist candidate was returned by a majority of 2494—a tremendous reversal. It is to be feared that the successful candidate owed his victory largely to beer. The working men were told that under the new Licensing Bill their beer would cost them more. They were told that the Government were going to ruin the brewers and throw all manner of people out of employment. Shouts of “Confiscation” and “Robbery” were raised because the Government proposes to resume, at the end of 14 years, the monopoly- value of drink licenses, and thus recover the right to close up unsatisfactory or superfluous hotels without compensation. Property in a drink license was never recognised by law in England until Mr. Balfour brought in his bill in 1904, and Mr. Balfour expressly admitted the right of any future Parliament to repudiate the right he had established. The present Government now proposes that the property in drink licenses which was created by Mr. Balfour shall cease to be a property after 14 years’ notice. This is “confiscation” and “plunder.” Peekham says so. It is said that “the Trade” spent at least £BOOO in support of the Tory candidate, and this sum was used in the distribution of leaflets, in placards, and on hired speakers. This reduces the legal limit on the "candidate's expenditure to an absurdity. No wonder he returned a cheque for £7O sent him by a wellknown firm of brewers. There were other ways of helping the Tory candidate; Nearly 300 motor-cars were placed at his disposal on election day. The suffragettes joined in the attack on the Liberal candidate, not because they wanted particularly to side with the brewers, but because the Liberal Government has refused them the franchise. It cannot be denied that the Suffragettes helped to influence the election. But tho overwhelming influence was beer. Crowds of wise and thoughtful Peckhamites sang that elevating ditty, “Beer, Glorious Beer” on the slightest provocation. Beer

filled their wise and thoughtful heads, and a good deal of it found its way down their throats. They do not shut the public-houses in this country un election

days. Peckham on the night of the election was a sight for gods and men. Nearly a million people thronged the streets —and the public houses. Such

a crowd is unparalleled in any electiox in the history of the country. When the victory of the Tory candidate was announced the scene was simply indescribable. To quote the “Daily Mail”:' “Nobody who was present will ever forget the .cheering. It rolled from street to street like mighty breakers upon a rock-bound shore. Minute after minute went on, until the crowd literally wore itself out with enthusiasm. It was a scene of chaos. The multitude literally went mad with joy. Men shook each other frantically by the hand. Tears stood in the eyes of many. But they went on cheering and cheering until their throats ached. Never was there such a happy crowd—never such spontaneous, irrepressible enthusiasm!”

Thoughtful and intelligent democracy! Glorious, glorious beer!