THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 938, 27 February 1908, Page 22

THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS.

At a recent “ Liberal” meeting at Watford, England, the Earl of Crewe said : “ One of the first measures with which the Government would deal was the licensing question, and they were determined, if possible to make the measure a farreaching, and, so far as might be, a complete measure. But if that was to be done the total abstainers and the moderate men must unite to support the Government. One form of temperance reform must inevitably come —a form which was recognised by the late Government — and that was the diminution of opportunity for obtaining drink. That would not do everything, but it would do something, part’y because if they did not have an indefinite multiplication of public-houses, it would be harder for those who wished to drink to excess to obtain drink, and partly, also by way of example. In the view of the Government, the reduction in the number of public-houses which, to

some extent, was effected by the Licensing Act passed by the late Government in 1904, was too slow, and ought to be accelerated, and the Government believed it could be. The needs of different districts must be considered, and judicious legislation might do much to promote temperance. In the treatment of clubs, the Government would be unbiased, and they would not heedlessly harass well-conducted clubs. They would make no difference between the club of the rich man and that of the poor man.”