PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

White Ribbon, Volume 14, Issue 151, 16 December 1907, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS.

The Session ended on the 25th November, after an eventful run of live montlis. (ieneral satisfaction is felt at the work accomplished. The three Land Acts alone, with the Infant Life Protection Bill, and the Darning and Lotteries Act. would have made any Session memorable. The first go far to prevent the octopus of land monopoly crushing out national life, as it has done all ton surely in Britain and Ireland, while they have placed old-age pensions and the growing needs of education on a firm basis at last. The second has boldly affirmed the principle that a State is to consider its unfortunate children as wards, not criminals, from birth, and lays down amended regulations as to boarding-out and training. The last embodies the most drastic regulation of betting and gambling in any modern state. It proposes to shut up betting shops, and gambling saloons, it lias closed the Press against betting news of any description, and apparently makes it impossible to bet. save on the race course itself. For all this we are devoutly thankful, not withstanding that the party of reform has got two bitter pills to swallow the retention of the totalisalor. and the provisional licensing of bookmakers. The last clause recognises the true British right of the small man to lose his money, as well as tin* sharers of the princely protits of the totalisalor. It was carried during a stormy month that afforded the diverting spectacle of Satan lighting Beelzebub. That is, the wealthy racing clubs hailed tlie trespassing bookmaker's to court, from whence tie* then existing law consigned them to gaol in dozens- Before their release under the new law. petitions in their favour were signed by prominent reformers, as well as by genuine sympathisers. As a matter of principle this was doubtless right. As a matter of personal sentiment, it will always be difficult to wax warm in denying that those who elect to live without work must also live without respect. Mr. Wilford. who had previously given pointed

support to the retention of pigeonshooting. joined Mr Merries in a spirited attempt to provide a loophole of escape for keepers of gaming and betting houses. They were not so successful there as ii/s, the matter of the pigeons. The Council wiped out both that sport and the coursing of hares in enclosed areas. When the Animals Protection Bill returned to the House, a few belated Roman holiday makers succeeded in restoring both abominations, though under some regulation. Though the sale of drink on coasting steamers is not forbidden, it has been greatly curtailed by the Packet License Bill, which transfers the license to tin* captain from the steward, and does not issue any peril! 1 for very short journeys. Delicate and difficult questions are raised by the passing of the Divorce Act Amendment, which has stopped the prevalent practice of obtaining divorce for desertion, on failure to comply with an order for restitution of conjugal rights. Two lawyers. Messrs Baumc and Barclay, protested against a change which, they said, would drive unfortunate persons into immorality. That freedom to re-marry should be made anything but a matter of ease and speed goes without saving, but any change tending to keep loveless people in a union devoid of Divine sanction is a matter for searching thought. Divorce is also at last legalised in the ease of long and hopeless lunacy, and where a parent has murdered children of the union. The Beer Duty Act lias passed, with cordial approval of all who desin* to see No License having a fair trial, unhampered by beer shops on tin* boundary. When we add the substantial benefits of the new tariff to tin* rest, it may In* fairly admitted that the Session has justified itself this year. J. M.