The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-06 00:00:00

Majority against the motion ......
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CHANCELLOR
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E.:R presentedPHlLLlPS A
presenting a petition in favour of the present Beer-law.
The
sim;lar petitions (we believe) from Southampton and Lancaster
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to the same effect.
msoalvie of
Mr. PARKER presented petitions against the Beer Act.
to bring in a Bill which he hoped would effect cos side bnl
benig ra
Beer, although he was sensible of the great importance
subject, affecting, as it did, alike the morals andthecoinfo
of the working classes, he thought that at this late hour of the
night (10 o'clock), it would be advisable to do ne more than
state the provisions of the Bill. There was a strong feeling
in the country against the existing Beer-law. He was aware
that many Hon. Members considered that the evils of the pre-
sent system could not be remedied but by abolishing altogether
the consumption of beer upon the premises. This, however,
he did not intend to propose—( Hear)—and he did not think
that the Bill which had been introduced into the other House
by a Noble and .Learned Lord ( Brougham) would be such as
would meet his approval.. The great evils now complained of
were the number of beersshops existing in the country, and
the disreputable character of many of those houses, and he
should endeavour both to limit the number of such houses, and
improve their character. He would propose that after a stated
time, in order to enable the parties affected by the measure to
wind up their affairs, no license should be granted to persons
who were not rated to a:certain sum in large towns, and a certain
smaller retain rural districts. In addition, he would require a cer-
ta;n amountof previous occupation of the premises, and that the
amount of the license be higher than at present. These were the
provisions of his Bill, and although it did not go so far as some
Hon. Members might wish, still he thought it was calculated t o pal-
liate many of the evils complained of. He hoped the at'empt
he was now making to correct those evils would receive the
support of Parliament. The Hon. Member concluded bg
moving for leave to bring in a Bill to alter and amend the laws
relating to the sale of beer.
Mr. SANFORD `seconded the motion. He thought
the Hon. Member had taken a very judicious course, in intro-
ducing a measure which would receive universal support. As
its object was to amend the provisions of the Bill, which had
received the support of the Government and the support of
many Hon. Members, as a measure of f. ee trade ; and as it had
been supported by the Right Hon. Gentleman below, as a
measure of finance, it was likely to be met by considerable oppo-
sition in certain quarters. Still, he hoped, that as a very
general feeling had been excited throughout the country that
the subject would receive the calm and dispassionate considera-
tion of that House.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, at that late
hour of the night, did not feel himself called upon to enter at
any considerable length on the subject. The object of the
Hon. Gentleman's Bin was to introduce regulations for the
sale of beer, and he was not prepared on the present occasion to
deny that some regulations were necessary.—( Hear, hear. )
He hoped, however, that these regulations would be general—
that they would not be confined to beer-houses, but to all houses
licensed for the sale of beer, spirits, or other liquors.__( Hear,
hear.) He hoped, in considering the subject, that these regu-
lations would be applied impartially, and not for the preponder-
ance of any particular class. He did not think that '.principle
was compromised in any degree by giving his assent to the in-
troduction of the Bill, which he trusted, as the Hon. Gentle-
man behind him had said, would be calmly and dispassionately
discussed, and without any party feeling, because he would ven-
ture to say that no subject ought to be approached with more
deliberation, and laying aside all prejudice, than the subject be-
fore the House. Financial considerations of the greatest im-
portance:were involved in the question, but he passed then by
in order to call the attention of the House to the enmous
private interests engaged in the trade—interests created the
other day by the Legislature, after full inquiry, and a long and
patient examination of the subject.—( Hear, hear.) He be-
lieved that not less than forty or fifty thousand persons had
been induced to embark their capital, and probably the whole of
it, in the trade now brought under their consideration; and if
ever there was a case in which it behoved Parliament to pro-
ceed with caution, it was the case now before them. He
would make no objection to the introduction of the Bill, but he
trusted the Hon. Gentleman would see the necessity of maki •
ng
the measure general.
Mr. WARBURTON said that if the Hon. Member would