The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-08
no TRE:AITIle ORDER IS
RESCIhDED N BRITAIN
Liquor Control Board Removing Re-
misunderstanding Order in Line
With Fixed Policy.

WIN Flxe0 EOaACfs
The wartime mo treating Order"
whereby everybody was required TO
pay only for his own drinks. provid-
ing the drinks were intoxicating. was
revoked by the central control board
Uiquor Traffic) on May 81.
The mo Treating Order" was prin-
cfpally AIMED at the suppression OF
two practices which We're causing
grave trouble and loss of naval. mill
tary and Industrial efficiency during
the carly months of the war, namely.
group treating, or the practice OF each
person In a group taking his turn 10
stand drinks all round. and the prac-
ticc OF tie indiscriminate treating or
members of the forces. particularly
when home on leave or travelling.
While the order was fairly well en-
forced 1t was by no means enforced
as well as the usual British govern
ment orders and regulations. In some
places, it was practically dead letter.
The average Britisher resented being
denied the right" to buy glass
OF suds for his wife or for his girl and
growled about it even while obeying
it.
One ny one the war time restric-
tons are being abolished and the
drink traffic is rapidly drifting back
to the ,,re-war-time conditions. AND
the arrests for drunkenness are in
creasmg in ratio with the removal Of
these restrictions.
Thore is much opposition to the
removal of these restrictions. but the
restrictions will probably soon all
be in the past. not so much that the
people want them removed but more
because they are imposed by war
time arbitrary power and not by any
act of parliament.
Opposition to Restrictions Removal
The opposition to the removal OF
the restrictions comes from various
influential sources worth considering.
The following resolution. passed by
the Greenock branch, of the National
Police and Prison Warden's associa-
ton, late in May. il worth quoting
in full:
THAT the condition Of our work
and duties during the war having been
made SO much easier by the restric-
tons put on the hours and on the
sale Of intoxicating liquor by the liq-
uor control board and in view of The
dement's to the community and espe-
rially to the children, as shown by the
fasts related in the annual report of
the chief constable and as disclosed
to us in the discharge of our duties
we resolve respectfully to urge that
the restrictions be continued until
the electors Of Scotland have had the
opportunity of voting on the disposal
of licenses in 1920.
on June ., Lord D'Ahernon re-
ceived a deputation from the national
council of the Free churches, which
included Or. +. Is. Meyer and Or.
Scott Lidgett. at the Offices Of the
central liquor control board
/ "a ppin&t
! the recent relaxation of the board >
restrictions. which, they stated, had
rendered great services TO the health
and efficiency of the country. The
health Of the children had greatly i'm
proved, drinking among women had
greatly decreased, and home condi-
tons showed marked Improvement.
A return TO pre-war conditions in the
drink trade said the deputation. would
be depiorahie. after the good that had
been done by the wartime rcgula-
tons. and they urged that such step
| should not be taken.
Lord DAbernon said that the flu
! ture regulation of the liquor trade
! was a matter for parliament. which
! would ba guided by public opinion.
| A return to pre-war conditions. he
agreed, would be unthinkable, but he
! pointed out that the control board
were DuItiy All eHiSiE chNy oIb
not constituted in order TO provide
solution of the drink question.
In the last week in June, the board
Of guardians down in Hampshire for
warded resolution to the town coun-
ell urging upon the government the
necessity for continuing the control
of drink.
The temperance interests are pro-
testing against the removal of the re-
strictonS in "A sort of an academic
way. not expecting that their pro-
tests will he needed They really
wish the restrictions to be enacted
into law instead of being left to the
arbitrary action of temporary gov
crnment bureau. But they are sus-
picious of the present coalition par
itanent which Is referred 10 as the
personal organization of Sir George
! Younger the Scottish brewer. Sir