The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-17 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 1876.

to chow that they could crList in harmony
,under auch a
system, Le quoted the example of the Athenream Club at
Manchester, which consied of Z,OOO members, to whom no
intoxicating liquor via/4 supplied. The principle object of
the Bill was to give local control over the sale •of strong
drink, and Om compensation of existing interest was a mere
matter of denial.
- • •

Mutts and Mr. Storer opposed, and Mr. E. Jenkins
supported the Bill.
Sir W. Lawson said this question was beceming fast,
if it were not already become so, the irrepressible ques-
tion of British politics, and the Home Secretary had
stated yesterday that it was a question in which not
only teetotallers were concerned, but in which the
whole public of the country were interested. Mr.
Wheelhouse bad objected to his clothes and his language
being dealt with by Act of Parliament, but the law did deal
with both, and it he used bad langutg,e he would soon find
himself in the hands of the police. ([Lear, hear.) He was vary
glad to find that there r was not so much said now about
making men sober by Act of Parliament. After all they could
not go beyond public opinion, end in this Bill he only gave to
, the public the right to decide as to the existence of public
houses among them. The magistrates wer3 not art elected but
a selected body, and ought not to be left to administer the
law relating to the grant of licenses of public-houses, but the
power should be
.transferred to the ratepayers m those
cases where the public themselves desired' it. He only
wished to discuss the principle of the Bill, and that was
that licenses for the sale of drink should only be granted
for the good of the public. An hon. gentleman opposite
had placed an amendment on the paper. that seven
-
ninths of the ratepayers should decide whether liceuces
should be granted instead of three-fourths, but he would
not object to that alteration in detail when the Bill reached
commietee, if the Bill reached that stage. (Hear, hear,
and laughter). Ile believed that drunkenness was one
of the greatest causes of crime in the country, and his
friend Lord Aberdare, with whom he had had many con-
troversies on this subject had said that it was one of the
greats causes; but he never at any time heard a reater.
(Rear, heat). Mr. Rathbone had succeeded in persuading him-
self that the number of public-houses had no influence on the
amount of drunkenness, but he thought the hon. member
would hardly succeed in persuading anybody else to come to
the same opinion. There had been a large increase in wages
in the north of England during recent years, hut all the ad-
vantages had been neutralised by the public-houses remaining
open. It was thought that the mills in the north would have
to go on short time ; he suegested that the public-houses
themselves should go on short time. Some persons advoca-
ted the Gettenburgh system, by which the profits fesm drink
sold in public houses should go towards the public purposes;
in other words, the profits of the publican should go to the
public; but he could not concur in this suggestion, and
askeel rather that the houses should be closed altogether. He
denied that the Main Liquor Law had been a tailure, and
quoted statements from officials in Ame ica to show the
necessity for its retention. The Prime Minister had stated
that permissive legislation was a caaracteristic of a free
people which showed what a good Radical the right hon.
gentleman had been, was now, and ever would be.
Wear, hear, and laughter.) It was true that he had no
clause for compensation in the Bill, but he wished to
know what publicans were to be compensated for, and
who was to compensate them. Ile would offer no opinion
at present on the sulsjsct until he saw what sort of
compensation was proposed, and how it was to be
carried out, but would remind the House that when public-
houses had their hours restricted in England, and were
compelled to close altegether on Sundays in Scotland, they
received no compensation. (Clear, hear.) A measure of this
kind was supported by the beat informed and most intelligent
of the working classes. They had seen gambling houses
suppressed, and the success of this movement in Cenada,
and they asked that tempta' len shoul I be removed out of their
way by passing this Bill. The religious bodies tad taken up
the matter, and such general interests was felt in it that it
could no longer be pushed on one side. This House was an
assemblage of rich men, and did not see the Inconveniences the
present state of things was br nging upon their poorer neigh-
bours, but a prayer for juetice, that they might be able to
protect themselves, was offered to the Howe. It might not
be granted at once, bu'; sooner or later it would be— (eear,
hear)—and when it was it would confer a lasting benefit on
the people of this country. (Cheers.)
After some observations from Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson, who
opposed the Bill, the House divided, with the following
result :—F,a• the second reading, 81; against, 290; majority,.
218 The bill was therefore rejected.

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The other business was dispoEed of, and the House ad-
journed.